U.S. defense firm confirms employees injured in Saudi shooting

Two Americans who came under fire in Saudi Arabia this weekend are employees of Vinnell Arabia, the firm said on Sunday. In a statement issued through a public relations firm, the company confirmed two employees were involved in an incident on Friday — the second incident in recent history — in which they were shot at by assailants in the al-Ahsa province of Saudi Arabia. Saudi police said earlier that one American had been wounded in a shooting.

Both employees were injured but are in stable condition at a local hospital.

Statement issued by defence contractor, Vinnell Arabia

Vinnell Arabia provides training for the Saudi National Guard, the state’s primary internal security force. Police said a car carrying two American nationals “came under fire from an unknown source” on Friday afternoon in al-Ahsa, part of the eastern region which is the source of most of the kingdom’s oil wealth. A source close to the incident said several rounds were fired at the Vinnell vehicle from a white car. The driver was hit several times; the second employee, who did not appear to be injured, was able to drive his wounded colleague to hospital.

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