Bahrain Mirror: At least two people were killed when a car exploded in Saudi Arabia's eastern city of Qatif on Thursday, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television reported.

It said initial reports indicated the victims were "fugitives", a term that suggested people being sought by the kingdom's security services.

The channel had earlier said the blast was caused by a car bomb. Its website posted images of thick black smoke rising from a street.

However, activists confirmed that the Saudi security authorities targeted a car carrying two anti-regime activists "Fadel Al Hamada and Mohammad Al-Samuel". Meanwhile, several narratives were issued about the way the authorities targeted the car, whether using RPG or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone).

For its part, the Saudi Ministry of Interior said that the security forces spotted a security wanted Toyota Sequoia car in Al-Qatif Governorate. The security authorities took necessary action in such a situation. The car was damaged, caught fire and exploded." The ministry added that "Investigation is underway to reveal the identity of those two individuals." This reveals that the car was damaged and those inside it were killed without even knowing who they were.

A resident contacted by telephone by Reuters said he had heard a blast and saw smoke rising above an area that police had blocked off. Saudi authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Photos sent over social media showed a body apparently completely burned being pulled from the wreckage of a car. The authenticity of the photos could not immediately be verified.

Qatif, home to a large Shi'ite Muslim population, has been a flashpoint between the Sunni Muslim government and Shi'ites complaining of discrimination.

Arabic Version