RIYADH, March 13: Saudi security forces shot dead a suspected militant and captured two of his accomplices during an early morning clash in the Rabwa neighbourhood of Jeddah on Sunday, a ministry of interior official told the Saudi press agency.

A woman also received injuries during the intensive shooting between the Saudi security forces and the extremists. Several policemen were also reported to have been wounded.

Reports said five policemen were wounded when the militant, identified as Saed al-Youbi, opened fire on security troops who raided his apartment in the northern Jeddah.

On Thursday morning, Saudi security forces arrested 18 terror suspects form the town of Zulfi, about 280km north of Riyadh. They, including 17 Saudis and one Afghan, are believed to be members of Al Qaeda in the Kingdom.

The arrested men were linked to incidents in January when security forces killed four wanted men in clashes north of Zulfi.

Sunday’s killing in Jeddah and arrests came less than a week after the US embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a warning of a heightened threat in Jeddah.