RIYADH (AFP) - A Yemeni man accused of murdering a policeman in Saudi Arabia had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, authorities in the kingdom said.

The suspect ran over and stabbed Corporal Muthhel al-Saluli on Wednesday (Aug 10) after the officer left a mosque in Bisha, in the south-western Asir region, the interior ministry said in a statement late on Friday.

The assailant, who was arrested the same day, told police "he belongs to Daesh (ISIS) and has pledged allegiance to the group", it said, adding that he killed Corporal Saluli "because he is a security official".

Six other Yemenis suspected of links to the incident have been arrested, said the statement, which was carried by the official SPA news agency.

Since late 2014, ISIS has claimed responsibility for a series of bombings, shootings, and assassinations targeting members of the security forces and the kingdom's Shi'ite minority.

Saudi Arabia is part of the US-led coalition that is fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Saudi political and religious leaders routinely denounce ISIS attacks - at home and abroad - as violations of Islam.