The number seven most wanted Al Qaeda suspect in Saudi Arabia died of his wounds on Tuesday after being captured in the province of Qassim in the central part of the kingdom earlier in the day.
His capture followed bloody clashes between wanted suspects and Saudi security forces.
The suspect killed, Mohammed Abdul Rahman Al Suwailmi, was one of 36 wanted men by Saudi authorities for involvement in terror activities.
“He is considered as one of the terrorist leaders,” a security source told AFP on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Saudi Arabia's interior ministry spokesman announced Suwailmi capture, and death, early Wednesday. Suwailmi “succumbed to his wounds and it turned out that he was wanted by the security authorities”.
A second suspect was also being sought in Qassim after he hijacked a car occupied by women where the clashes took place.
Five Saudi police were reportedly killed in the clashes, considered the most violent in the kingdom in months. Similar clashes began in May 2003, with attacks mainly against Westerners.
Saudi Arabia has been locked in a battle between what it labels extremists attempting to overthrow the royal family.
The US has also put pressure on Saudi Arabia to crack down on such groups following the September 11 attacks. 15 of the 19 suicide hijackers in the attack were Saudi Arabian.
