American shot dead in Saudi capital

An American was shot and killed in the Saudi capital Riyadh today, the US embassy confirmed.

A diplomat said the man, who was not identified, was attacked in the Khaleej district of eastern Riyadh.

The official Saudi news agency said police responding to a report of a shooting found an American shot dead in his home.

An Irish cameraman and a British reporter for the BBC came under fire on Sunday while filming a militant’s family home in Riyadh.

Cameraman, Simon Cumbers, 36, was killed and BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, 42, was critically injured.

The shootings follow a string of dramatic attacks in the kingdom targeting foreigners and said to be carried out by militants inspired by or belonging to the al-Qaida terror network led by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.