JEDDAH, 12 August 2004 — Security forces shot dead a militant who was wanted for security-related matters after the man threw a hand grenade at them in Makkah yesterday. “Police opened fire at the man when he threw the grenade in their direction,” the Saudi Press Agency reported, quoting an Interior Ministry official. “A policeman was lightly wounded in the incident,” the official added.

Police had tried to persuade the militant, in his mid-20s, to surrender, but were forced to open fire after he hurled the grenade, a security source said. The source said the man, identified as Saleh Al-Badrani, was not on the Saudi list of 26 most wanted terrorists, 11 of whom are still on the run.

The incident followed a series of clashes with Al-Qaeda-linked militants who, 15 months ago, launched a campaign of suicide bombings and shootings aimed at destabilizing the Kingdom and forcing Westerners to leave the country. Earlier this month Saudi police arrested Faris Al-Zahrani, who was on the most wanted list. Zahrani was one of three clerics on the list.