Footage circulating earlier on social media showed loud shooting that lasted for at least 30 seconds, leading to speculation online about a possible coup attempt and questions about the whereabouts of the king and crown prince.

One video showed at least two police cars parked in the middle of the street. Reuters was unable to independently verify the videos' authenticity.

Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, has witnessed a series of radical political changes over the past year as the king's son, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ousted his cousin as crown prince and then jailed senior royals in an anti-corruption sweep.

Prince Salman returned from a month-long foreign tour earlier this month.

The senior Saudi official said a system would be put in place to regulate the use of recreational drones.

(Reporting by Rania Elgamal, Stephen Kalin and Sarah Dadouch; editing by Andrew Roche and Daniel Wallis)

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uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-security/saudi-security-shoots-down-toy-drone-near-royal-palace-official-media-idUKKBN1HS0QQ