US citizen 'kidnapped in Riyadh'

A statement purportedly from al-Qaeda has said the group killed one US citizen and kidnapped another in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The statement, on an Islamist website, said the hostage would be dealt with in the same way as the US "dealt with our brothers in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib".

The website also posted a video allegedly showing the killing of a US security contractor last Tuesday.

It came hours after another US national was shot dead in Riyadh on Saturday.

The shooting happened in the al-Malaz suburb of the city and police were reportedly seen chasing suspects.

Saudi police immediately sealed off the area

A US military contractor and an Irish BBC journalist have also been killed in the last six days amid a spate of attacks on foreigners in the kingdom.

The US embassy in Riyadh confirmed it was looking for a missing US citizen.

"We do have reports of a missing American. We are working with local authorities to find him and are in touch with his family," an embassy spokesman said.

The embassy also identified Saturday's shooting victim as Kenneth Scroggs, without providing any further details.

It also reiterated a warning to Americans in Saudi Arabia to leave the country.

-- Associated Press

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