Gunmen target French travellers in Saudi Arabia

Three Frenchmen were killed today and at least one other was injured when they came under fire while travelling in the Saudi Arabian desert north of Medina, a spokesman for the kingdom’s Interior Ministry said.

Major General Mansour al-Turki said the group of French travellers were resting on the side of a road when gunmen fired at their car, instantly killing two of the men.

The third man died later after he was taken to a hospital, and the fourth Frenchman was in serious condition at an area hospital, al-Turki said.

Women and children were also with the group, who were on a road 10.6 miles north of Medina, but they were uninjured.

Saudi authorities are investigating the attack, al-Turki said.

“Undoubtedly this is a criminal act, but it’s too early to determine their motives and whether it is terrorism,” he said.