Six people have been shot dead after a gunman opened fire at an education department office in Saudi Arabia’s southern Jazan province, officials have said.

Two other people have been wounded in the assault, in the remote community of Ad Dair, next to the border with Yemen.

The attacker has been arrested, an official said.

Photo Wikimedia

No motive has been given for the attack, and authorities say they are treating it as a criminal act.

The suspect has not been identified but the AFP news agency, quoting Al-Ekhbariya state TV, reported that the man was not an employee but had some business at the ministry.

Earlier reports suggested the attacker was a teacher.

Criminal mass shootings are rare in Saudi Arabia but the country has faced recent attacks by ISIS.

Saudi Arabia has led an air campaign against Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen and violence in the border region has been frequent in recent months.