Several injured in Saudi raid

Several people were injured in eastern Saudi Arabia today, residents and activists said, when security forces entered the old quarter of Awamia, where authorities say Shia militants are hiding.

Mirat Al-Jazeera, an online newspaper, said at least two people were confirmed killed in the raid, which began at dawn. Saudi officials were not immediately available to comment.

Authorities say the narrow streets of the old town known as Al-Musawra, which date back more than 200 years, have become a hideout for Shia Muslim militants believed to be behind attacks on security forces in the majority-Shia oil-producing region.

Awamia has long been a flashpoint of friction between the Sunni-led government and Shia complaining of discrimination. Tensions have increased since Nimr Al-Nimr, a prominent Shia cleric convicted of inciting violence, was executed a year ago.

Details of casualties in the clashes were sketchy.

Activists posted pictures and video recordings of bulldozers on a street, cars on fire and walls covered in bullet-holes, and said security forces in armoured vehicles were preventing medics reaching the area.

“A citizen was confirmed martyred as well as another of Indian nationality after being shot by Saudi army gunfire,” Mirat Al-Jazeera reported on its Facebook page.