One of the deceased was a consulate security guard.

“A person in a car stopped near the American consulate building in Jeddah Governorate and got out of it carrying a firearm in his hand,” Saudi state news agency SPA reported citing a statement by the Mecca city police spokesperson as quoted by CNN.

That person was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces, it said.

“A Nepalese worker in the consulate’s security guards was injured and then later died,” it also said.

A spokesperson for the consulate confirmed the incident.

"There were two fatalities, including a member of the Consulate’s local guard force as well as the assailant, who was killed by Saudi security forces,” they were quoted as saying by CNN.

No American was harmed in the attack.