Westerners Feared Dead in Saudi Attack
Saturday, May 29, 2004
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Gunmen opened fire Saturday in separate attacks on compounds housing offices of oil companies in the eastern city of Khobar (search), apparently killing at least five people and then taking hostages. Three foreigners were believed to be among the dead.
Witnesses spoke of four gunmen in military-style dress attacking two oil company offices; a Western diplomat in Saudi Arabia (search) said a total of three compounds were attacked.
Other witnesses said they saw three men with Western features lying on the ground covered with newspapers. Those bodies were taken away in ambulances, they said. The nationalities of the foreigners were not known, but British officials were en route to Khobar to check rumors a British national was killed, according to the Foreign Office in London.
Two security guards were believed to be dead, according to a Western diplomat who said there were three separate shooting attacks on compounds in Khobar, located 250 miles northeast of the capital, Riyadh (search). The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity.
The gunmen, whose number was not clear, took refuge in a compound in the area housing Arabs and Westerners following a shootout with security forces, witnesses said.
At least 10 ambulances were seen outside the Oases compound, an upscale residential complex owned by a Saudi businessman, one witness said. He said he was told by a policeman that gunmen were apparently holding hostages.
Hundreds of policemen surrounded the compound, and helicopters hovered overhead, witnesses said.
They said they had heard of eight people killed at two compounds containing oil company offices, after which the gunmen took refuge in the housing compound.
Saudi Interior Ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment. U.S. Embassy officials also could not be reached.
Witnesses, all of whom spoke on condition they not be identified, said the four men in military-style uniforms who apparently carried out the attack used a small car and were accompanied by another sports utility vehicle.
Saudi Arabia has launched a high-profile crackdown on terrorists following attacks on Riyadh housing compounds in 2003. The government says it has foiled dozens of terror attacks in the kingdom. Most of the attacks were blamed on Al Qaeda (search).
The most recent terror attack in Saudi Arabia targeted the offices of Houston-based ABB Lummus Global Inc. in the western city of Yanbu on May 1, killing six Westerners and a Saudi. In April, attackers bombed a security building in Riyadh, killing five people and injuring 148 more.
A week ago, a German who worked as a chef for Saudi Arabia's national airline was shot and killed by unknown assailants. Authorities are investigating whether the attack was linked to terrorism.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Gunmen opened fire Saturday in separate attacks on compounds housing offices of oil companies in the eastern city of Khobar (search), apparently killing at least five people and then taking hostages. Three foreigners were believed to be among the dead.
Witnesses spoke of four gunmen in military-style dress attacking two oil company offices; a Western diplomat in Saudi Arabia (search) said a total of three compounds were attacked.
Other witnesses said they saw three men with Western features lying on the ground covered with newspapers. Those bodies were taken away in ambulances, they said. The nationalities of the foreigners were not known, but British officials were en route to Khobar to check rumors a British national was killed, according to the Foreign Office in London.
Two security guards were believed to be dead, according to a Western diplomat who said there were three separate shooting attacks on compounds in Khobar, located 250 miles northeast of the capital, Riyadh (search). The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity.
The gunmen, whose number was not clear, took refuge in a compound in the area housing Arabs and Westerners following a shootout with security forces, witnesses said.
At least 10 ambulances were seen outside the Oases compound, an upscale residential complex owned by a Saudi businessman, one witness said. He said he was told by a policeman that gunmen were apparently holding hostages.
Hundreds of policemen surrounded the compound, and helicopters hovered overhead, witnesses said.
They said they had heard of eight people killed at two compounds containing oil company offices, after which the gunmen took refuge in the housing compound.
Saudi Interior Ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment. U.S. Embassy officials also could not be reached.
Witnesses, all of whom spoke on condition they not be identified, said the four men in military-style uniforms who apparently carried out the attack used a small car and were accompanied by another sports utility vehicle.
Saudi Arabia has launched a high-profile crackdown on terrorists following attacks on Riyadh housing compounds in 2003. The government says it has foiled dozens of terror attacks in the kingdom. Most of the attacks were blamed on Al Qaeda (search).
The most recent terror attack in Saudi Arabia targeted the offices of Houston-based ABB Lummus Global Inc. in the western city of Yanbu on May 1, killing six Westerners and a Saudi. In April, attackers bombed a security building in Riyadh, killing five people and injuring 148 more.
A week ago, a German who worked as a chef for Saudi Arabia's national airline was shot and killed by unknown assailants. Authorities are investigating whether the attack was linked to terrorism.
