Saudi religious police chief found dead in mysterious circumstances

A provincial head of Saudi Arabia's religious police has died in mysterious circumstances, prompting an investigation into the incident, local media has reported.

Fahd al-Khudhair, the chief of the Commission of the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in the central town of al-Khabra, al-Qassim province was found dead on Sunday after an extension to his home was set ablaze, Saudi news website Sabq reported.

"Security agencies are investigating the death… as they have suspicions about the fire and think it is likely that it was a criminal act," the outlet said.

The report added that Khudhair has yet to be buried as police are "gathering evidence and rounding up suspects".

Abu Dhabi-based Erem News said, citing sources within the religious police, that Khudhair was shot twice in the chest by an unknown assailant, who then set fire to an addition to his home.

Saudi Arabia's "morality police", known commonly as the hayaa, operates as a quasi-police force with patrols in major cities enforcing religious decrees.

Saudi Arabia curbed the powers of the religious police last year.

The all-male force can no longer make arrests or pursue people in car chases, though they still patrol the streets and public places ensuring unrelated men and women are not mingling.

News of the death has been widely discussed by Saudis on Twitter with many giving their condolences to Khudhair's family.