- 13 May 2003 12:09
#10858
Any ideas on possible motives?. The US just pulled all its forces from Saudi, coincidence?
BBC News wrote:'Al-Qaeda' attacks rock Saudi capital
Ten Americans and many other foreigners are believed to have been killed in a series of suicide bomb attacks on foreign housing compounds and businesses in the Saudi capital Riyadh, US officials say.
An Australian man, a Saudi national and a Lebanese citizen were also killed and at least 50 others were injured when the bombers drove cars filled with explosives at four targets around the city.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who arrived in Saudi Arabia hours after the attacks, said: "Right now it seems as if we have lost 10 Americans killed ... Many other lives were lost from many other nationalities."
He said the "cowardly" operation bore all the signs of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
"Terrorism strikes everywhere and everyone," he said.
"It is a threat to the civilised world."
We locked ourselves in and I telephoned my wife and said we're being bombed to hell
He was greeted on arrival by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, who promised to co-operate with the US in its war on terror.
The French news agency AFP said three suicide bombers were also reported killed in the blasts.
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and 15 of the 19 men suspected of carrying out the 11 September suicide attacks on New York and Washington.
Gunfire
Mr Powell arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday to hold talks with Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz as part of a Middle East tour.
He hopes to gain Arab support in Riyadh for a new US-backed peace plan to end the Palestinian and Israeli unrest.
US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan said he had visited more than 40 American injured in the city hospitals.
Mr Jordan said one of the compounds attacked was a scene of flames and smoke where at least 12 homes and 16 apartment complexes were destroyed.
"There is great concern over the possible injury and loss of life in that particular compound," he said.
The second compound attacked was a several-storey residential apartment building for single men working as defence contractors which was "very seriously damaged by an explosion that made it all the way in to the building", he said.
The third compound was less damaged as the bomb exploded at the gate rather than inside the premises.
In one of the attacks, gunmen driving a black Chevrolet Caprice sedan are reported to have shot their way into the residential compound.
Security officials said the car, packed with explosives, crashed through the gates of the compound and was then detonated.
The force of the explosion shook nearby buildings and windows, witnesses said.
Security warnings
Workers from a US firm which helps trains the Saudi National Guard were reported to among those injured.
The Associated Press news agency said fourth explosion was aimed at the headquarters of the Saudi Maintenance Company, also known as Siyanco.
American residents have been advised by the US embassy in Riyadh to stay at home and "away from windows and doors".
"Saudi security forces are responding to the attacks and have been asked to take the appropriate measures to protect all other sites in the kingdom where Americans reside," an embassy statement said.
On 1 May the US State Department warned American citizens against non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia, citing intelligence that terrorist groups may be in the "final phases" of planning attacks against the American community there.
In recent months there have been a number of attacks on Western targets in the conservative Arab kingdom, including a string of shooting attacks against employees of western defence contractors in Saudi Arabia.
Did you witness the attacks in Riyadh? Send us your comments using the form below with a phone number if available.
I thought it was thunder
Lauren Morrison, Saudi Arabia
Last night I heard 2 big bangs, the second one was much louder than the first one. I was in my bed when I heard this extreme sound. I thought it was thunder since I would have never thought it would be bombs. I woke up the next morning when I was having my tea. I was flicking the channels, I was so devastated when I saw the news. A few of my friends live on this compound and I have tried to phone them but the line was cut.
Lauren Morrison, Saudi Arabia
I was in a compound in Saudi last year. Far from the 'extensive' security I have heard reported in some channels, all we had was miles of unguarded walls topped with old and broken barbed wire and a flimsy entrance gate guarded by an old, bored, unarmed security guard.
Anon, UK
We live about 1 km from one of the hit compounds. There was a serious explosion around 11.15pm, our house shook even at that distance. We thought at first that it was fireworks but then realised that the sound was quite different and then there was a night of sirens and helicopters, clearly a significant event. One of our friends in another compound found body parts in their pool this morning, just to cap a fairly bad night.
Stuart, Saudi, Riyadh
Foreign workers in Saudi Arabia
More than five million work in all areas of economy
Most from Asia, Philippines and other Arab countries
US citizens: 30,000
UK nationals: 30,000
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