One person has been killed during clashes between Saudi police officers and protesters described as “masked gunmen”, according to the state news agency SPA.

The SPA statement said security patrols in the Al-Shwikah district in Qatif, the Eastern Province of the country “came under heavy fire from masked mean, which resulted in the injury of four rioters”. One of those injured later died on the way to King Fahd Medical Complex.

The protests took place on 9 February and were followed by further demonstrations at the man’s death the next day.

Seven people have now died in protests since demonstrations started in the mainly Shia Eastern Province. The Shia in Saudi Arabia complain they are marginalised by the Sunni-led government and are also protesting against Riyadh’s role in helping quash a Shia-led protest movement in neighbouring Bahrain.

The statement added that “security men will deal firmly with all cases and situations that endanger the security and safety of citizens and residents”.