Saudi police kill 6 men wanted for murder of officer

Saudi police say they have tracked down and killed six men wanted for the murder of a counter-terrorism security officer.

The Interior Ministry said yesterday that police encircled the suspects in the northwestern area of Ha'il and, after warnings to surrender, killed them in a shootout.

The ministry had said on February 27 that six male relatives of Special Forces Sgt Badr Hamdi al-Rashidi took advantage of family links to lure him to a remote area and kill him. Police released the suspects' photos, names and ages, which ranged from 18 to 32.

Soon after that, a video emerged of the suspects purportedly declaring their allegiance to the Islamic State group and shooting dead the officer beside a highway. The Associated Press could not verify the video's authenticity.