A Saudi cop is seen gesturing besides other policemen in this file photo.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's police have shot dead three men wanted for "terrorist" attacks in the country's east, the kingdom's interior ministry said Friday.

The men -- two Saudis and a Bahraini -- were killed in an exchange of gunfire with police in the city of Saihat in the district of Qatif on July 14, the ministry said.

Police seized three machine guns, a pistol, ammunition and more than 10 kilos (22 pounds) of explosives, official news agency SPA reported a ministry spokesman as saying.

He said the men were wanted for their involvement in deadly attacks against the police, as well as an attack on a vehicle used to transport cash, abductions and weapons trafficking.

Al-Jazirah newspaper on July 15 reported the death of one of the Saudis, Jaafar al-Mobireek, killed in Qatif, which has seen a string of attacks on security forces in recent weeks.

Authorities have blamed the violence on "terrorists" and drug traffickers.