Saudi police surround house in capital

Associated Press ^ | June 16, 2004 | AP

[Zeppo]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi security forces and police surrounded a house in the capital Wednesday, Saudi security officials said, and intermittent gunfire was heard.

Police surrounded the entire district of Al-Badeaa, in southwestern Riyadh, and officers at a checkpoint about a half-mile away diverted traffic to other routes.

Gunfire could be heard late into the night and more security forces were seen arriving.

The operation came as Saudi Arabia has stepped up the search for the kidnappers of Paul Johnson, an American who was taken hostage Saturday.

Witnesses who had been diverted from the area by police speculated that the house may be the hideout of the suspected kidnappers. However, the security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not comment on who may be in the house...

[Zeppo]

Didn't see this posted yet... The obvious questions include, "how much of a head start did the Saudi authorities give to the militants to aid their escape, before the police started firing their guns", and "when will they bring in the helicopter-borne commandos for the news photo-op". < / sarcasm>

[M. Peach]

This was also just reported on Fox News - nothing else for now.

[thoughtomator]

None, they just gave him a uniform, like the PLO does.

[dead]

We have you surrounded! The game is over!

Now we'll close our eyes and count to fifty, while you run away and hide somewhere else.

Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

[TomGuy]

the house may be the hideout of the suspected kidnappers

Let's just hope the kidnappers are too stupid to be watchng the news channels. Otherwise, they might get a clue that their hideout being surrounded.

[Media need to take a step back and decide which side they are on.]

[kcvl]

Witnesses who had been diverted from the area by police speculated that the house may be the hideout of the suspected kidnappers. However, the security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, would not comment on who may be in the house.

On Tuesday, Saudi forces arrested two militants north of Riyadh as they increased security in and around the city in the hunt for Johnson's kidnappers.

An Islamic Web site screened a videotape of Johnson, 49, on Tuesday threatening his life unless the Saudi government freed all its al-Qaida detainees by Friday night.

[sgtbono2002]

I pray they get him out.

[MediaMole]

I'll take 4 in the "how many terrorists escape?" pool.

[Zeppo]

I dropped my cable TV service last week... Please keep us informed of any updated developments.

[M. Peach]

Dead! Who is that on your page? Male or female?

[johnfrink]

"Stop! We have the house surrounded!

Oh...er, hello, your majesty. Didn't expect to find YOU here.

(Pauses, acts like shoe is untied.)

Hey, wait, where did the bad guys go?"

[toomanygrasshoppers]

"I pray they get him out"

Let's all pray right now for him. Please.

[Normal4me]

Mikey Moore? ;-)

[steveo]

my first thoughts.

[steveo]

man-boobies.

[Delbert]

I hope Mr. Johnson has been praying as well, after the Berg incident, I am not too optimistic. I was thinking if the Saudi forces did find the hideout and storm it, that Johnson would be shot immediately. If given a choice I would rather be shot than have my head sawed off.

[Zeppo]

According to Google, the district in Riyadh is spelled (in Romanized letters) "Al-Badea", and not "Al-Badeaa". Apropos of nothing, apparently there is a Pizza Hut in that district.

[Delbert]

Nice teats huh?

[Zeppo]

Me too... Of course with information this sketchy, it could be a totally unrelated incident.

[EricT.]

I honestly believe that there will be some dead terrorists when this one is over. The Saudi's need our people to keep their oil flowing. Since the State Dept. has been calling for a pullout, they will need to show some serious effort on this one.