Bomber killed, two injured in blast near US consulate in Jeddah

JEDDAH - A suicide bomber was shot dead while two security personnel were injured in a blast near the US consulate building in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah city on Monday morning.

According to media reports, the bomber had approached the US consulate after parking his car outside a hospital located opposite the building, before being gunned down by security personnel. Two security officials were also lightly wounded in a blast triggered by the bomber.

Following the incident, multiple bomb blasts were reported from the same area. Saudi media said that these were remote controlled explosions detonated from nearby.

Meanwhile, a US State Department message warned US citizens in Saudi Arabia to take extra precautions while travelling in the Kingdom.

The blast took place on July 4, which is marked as Independence Day of the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.