Dubai: Two Indians were among the 17 people killed in an al-Qaeda terrorist attack on a luxury housing complex in the oil city of Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia even as helicopter-borne troops stormed the building this morning to rescue nearly 50 people held hostage.

While the Indian Embassy in Riyadh identified one of the Indians killed as Lawrence Gregory Monice from Mangalore, Karnakata, it said the identity of another, who the Jeddah-based daily 'Malayalam News' reported was one Pramod, a plumber from Kerala working at the Oasis Housing Compound, was yet to be confirmed.

The Embassy could not say if there were any Indians among the hostages held by the terrorists.

"We have sent a three-member team to Al Khobar," an Embassy official said from Riyadh, adding, "They are going from hospital to hospital to find out if there are more Indians dead or injured."

Lawrence, who was general manager with Al Sakhar Insurance Company in Al Khobar, was shot in the head by the terrorists as he drove to his office, reports said, adding his body is kept in one of the hospitals in Al Khobar.

"We are in touch with the Saudi Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry to ascertain if any other Indians were either killed or held hostage in the twin attacks that took place yesterday afternoon when four heavily-armed terrorists stormed the complex housing mostly foreigners," the official said.

Terrorists killed at least 17 people and wounded eight yesterday in the attacks before taking 50 foreigners hostage at the complex yesterday.