Two policemen killed in Saudi Arabia

Dammam : Two Saudi policemen have been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the mainly Shia eastern city of Dammam on Saturday.

The officers were patrolling the area in a police car late on Saturday when they came under fire, authorities said, describing the incident as a "terrorist attack".

Doctors at the local hospital pronounced the officers dead upon arrival, however details behind the shooting are yet to be revealed.

Saudi Arabia's interior ministry confirmed the attack but did not specify who was responsible for the shootings.

However, several similar incidents have been previously witnessed in the kingdom.

In August, four masked men opened fire on a policeman in Qatif.

The officer was wounded in the attack and died on the way to hospital, police said in a statement.

In January, four policemen were killed in similar attacks in the oil-rich east of the kingdom.

Eastern Province residents have said clashes with police are also sometimes linked to criminal activity including the drug trade.