Twin car blasts near offices in Saudi capital

Two car bombis exploded near in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday, a security source and witnesses said. The first bomb went off near th...

Two car bombis exploded near in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Wednesday, a security source and witnesses said. The first bomb went off near the Interior Ministry, but the building itself was not damaged, the security source said. The other one went off near the Emergency Security Forces building.

There was no immediate word of casualties. The source said it was not yet clear if it was a suicide bombing.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has been battling a wave of Al Qaeda linked violence. Witnesses reported hearing two large blasts near the ministry building as well as gunfire. The blasts were felt up to 2 km away from the area, they said.

Earlier in the day, Saudi police killed a suspected militant in a shootout in Riyadh and captured two wanted militants after a gun battle in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, state television and security sources said. It wa snot clear if they were on any wanted list.