TWO cars carrying suicide bombers exploded after coming under fire as they tried to drive through the gates of an oil refinery. At least two of the militants died. Two security guards were also killed, and two were wounded.

The Abqaiq plant in the Eastern Province handles two thirds of Saudi Arabia’s production. It was the first attack on an oil installation in the kingdom, which has waged a crackdown on Islamic militants.

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on the internet, although the authenticity of the claim could not be verified.

Al-Qaeda militants have previously attacked oil company offices. Operations at the plant were not affected. “Export operations continued in full,” the Interior Ministry said. The price of oil jumped by more than $1.20 (70p) on world markets after the attack.

The attack took place in a region where Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority is centred.Guards opened fire on the cars, and both vehicles exploded.

A Saudi journalist who arrived at the scene soon after the explosion said that one car had exploded initially and that the guards killed two people in a second car before it blew up.

Guards fought for two hours with militants outside the facility. Ali al-Naimi, the Oil Minister, said that the attack had caused a small fire but added that it was brought under control and did not affect operations.

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