A security patrol was checking a complaint that a resident of a flat in the capital’s al-Rayyan district had showed support for the ISIL extremist group, the official SPA news agency quoted ministry spokesman Mansur al-Turki as saying. 

“When security forces attempted to arrest him, he showed resistance and pulled a gun and it became necessary to deal with him and neutralize him, resulting in his death,” he said. 

Another suspected militant was arrested and was found in possession of a weapon, the ministry said. 

Last month, Saudi authorities said four ISIL cells had been busted and 18 militants detained in central and western Saudi Arabia.