"Loud explosions heard in the capital of Saudi Arabia"

ABC Radio News - no link | 4-21-04

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Nothing follows. Searching for wire reports.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

PDT RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Loud explosions were heard Wednesday the Saudi capital, witnesses said.

The explosions came from the vicinity of the General Security building, which is affiliated to the Interior Ministry, in al-Nassiriyah neighborhood in central Riyadh, the witnesses said.

A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the explosions but did not provide details.

[hmmmmm]

Heard it on Fox. Explosions in Riyadh but no further info. Seems odd.

[Punditstar]

Our problem is that there have been no bombs in Syria and Saudi Arabia--we aren't pursuing this in the right way.

[OXENinFLA]

Just heard this on C-span.

[OXENinFLA]

And STATE just told everyone to leave.

[Catspaw]

Also reported on CNN. No other info, however.

[mewzilla]

Wonder if the Saudis were thinking about upping production?

[mitch5501]

A messy place the middle east

[Preachin']

I spent time in Riyadh before the 1st Gulf War.

I can't imagine a target, but they have a large bus system.

There is also a large market down town (gold, silver, etc.) where a lot of innocent people would be gathered.

I think there is a Marriott Hotel in the city. It was American but I can't remember the name. I am not sure if there are still American GIs in the hotel I used when I was there. My guess would be no.

[OXENinFLA]

Travel Warning: Saudi Arabia United States Department of State April 15, 2004

[Catspaw]

It doesn't seem odd. They've had warnings for the past few weeks and have intercepted other car bombs in the past week to 10 days. And for terrorists, they only have to get lucky once.

[Crazieman]

[Crazieman]

Defused 5 more? Yikes

[tm22721]

DU speculates that it is a SA plot to help Bush get re-elected.

BUMP

[alloysteel]

The sound of chickens returning to the roost. The Saudi Royals are under assault. Their appeasement of al-Qaeda has ceased to be effective. Any promise of support for George W. Bush, however oblique, must be punished directly and severely, and that announcement of the intent of the Saudis to loosen up oil supplies just before the US Presidential election was seen as supporting the reelection of President Bush.

Who says the Democrat National Committee doesn't know how to muster and deploy a strike force?

[Coop]

Seems like the intel agencies were definitely onto this one. Unfortunately not enough info to stop the attack.

[StriperSniper]

And STATE just told everyone to leave.

Yup, it looks like the intel was pretty good.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

04:28 PDT RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- [snip] ... Witnesses said the explosions, which occurred about 2 p.m. local time, shattered windows and damaged walls in surrounding buildings. It was not immediately known whether there were any casualties.

[Huck]

Who says the Democrat National Committee doesn't know how to muster and deploy a strike force?

ouch