Saudi security say two Italians injured in 'apparent attack'

Saudi Arabia's interior ministry says two Italians were wounded in the coastal city of Jeddah earlier this month in what appears to have been a premeditated attack targeting their cars.

Interior Ministry Spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told AP that security forces are pursuing the 7 June incident as a criminal act that appears to be centered around a personal dispute.

Al-Turki said preliminary investigations show an explosive device was placed under the gas pedals of two cars, causing the vehicles to catch fire and injuring the drivers, but not the other Italian passengers.

Italian authorities are cooperating in the ongoing investigation.

The US Consulate in Jeddah recently issued a security alert and said it was aware of two car bombings that resulted in several injuries and no deaths.

The Islamic State group conducted a number of bomb attacks and shootings in Saudi Arabia from 2014 that have mainly targeted and killed hundreds of members from the country's Shia minority as well as security services.

In July 2016 a suicide bomber was killed and two people were wounded in a blast near the US consulate in Jeddah, the first bombing to target foreigners in the kingdom for years.

Saudi police in 2017 said they have uncovered a major militant hideout in Jeddah where bomb-making materials and weapons were uncovered.