Saudi car bomb find fuels fears of terror campaign

Further evidence of a bombing campaign against westerners in Saudi Arabia emerged yesterday when the US embassy revealed that an American couple had narrowly escaped death when an explosive device was attached to the car they were driving.

The incident, on Saturday, came only nine days after a British banker was killed by a car bomb shortly after driving away from his home in Riyadh.

Saudi officials have often blamed the attacks on internecine strife among expatriates over illicit trade in alcohol, which is banned in the kingdom.

A Guardian investigation earlier this year refuted Saudi claims that the attacks were part of a turf war between rival bootleggers. The investigation also found that four men arrested and later released had been tortured and urged to confess by Saudi interior ministry agents.

A circular issued to expatriates by the US embassy yesterday showed that Saturday's failed attack was almost a carbon copy of the one that killed 35-year-old Simon Veness, a Briton who was employed by al-Saudi al-Fransi bank.

"The American and his spouse discovered an unfamiliar and suspicious object attached underneath the vehicle because the object was dragging on the road as they set off to work," the embassy statement said.

The American man, who has not been named, works at the King Faisal specialist hospital in Riyadh. After spotting the device, he contacted the Saudi police who removed it. Further checks showed it was a bomb.

There was no official comment from the Saudi authorities as to a possible motive.

"People are feeling very unsettled," a British woman living in Riyadh, who asked not to be named, said last night. "We're worried because the proper information about these incidents doesn't come out.

"It's generally worse for the men because they have the cars - women aren't allowed to drive here."

Residents are often reluctant to talk on the record about the situation for fear of upsetting the Saudi authorities. One, contacted by the Guardian on the telephone last night, refused to say anything and another asked for proof that the call was genuine.

Security checks at the compounds where most of the 26,000 British expatriates live have been stepped up recently, with systematic checks under parked cars.

Early yesterday, bomb disposal experts were called to the compound where Mr Veness lived after a suspicious object was found stuck to the underside of a car. The authorities carried out a controlled explosion but sources said later that the object was a harmless piece of litter.

"These incidents underline the importance of checking vehicles thoroughly before entering them," Ken Neill, the British consul, said in a notice to residents. He advised residents to check "on, under and in" their vehicles before unlocking them. "It is better to get down on your hands and knees to look than to use a mirror. Carry a torch for this purpose," he advised.

"Check particularly whether the bonnet, boot or doors have been tampered with, and the wheel arches and area beneath the passenger compartment."

Although there are suspicions that religious militants may be behind the attacks, the campaign began well before September 11.

In November 2000, Christopher Rodway, an engineer from Gloucestershire, died when his car exploded at a set of traffic lights in Riyadh. A subsequent blast left two Britons maimed.

Seven other bombings occurred over the following 14 months, and more than a dozen Britons involved in illegal alcohol dealings were arrested.

Five Britons are still in prison, along with a Belgian and a Canadian. After making televised "confessions" they were secretly tried and given long prison sentences. One man, Sandy Mitchell, was sentenced to death.

On June 5 an Australian employee of British Aerospace was fired on five times by a sniper while driving in the north-western city of Tabuk.

Last month, Saudi Arabia said it was holding 13 people, including at least six Saudis, who were said to be linked to al-Qaida and suspected of planning attacks in the kingdom.

Among those detained was a Sudanese man who claimed to have fired a surface-to-air missile at an American warplane taking off from the Prince Sultan air base. But no evidence has come to light linking this group to the car bombings.

Imagine if the US consul advised us to check for bombs on our knees prior to commuting to work???!!

They are!

The Embassy requests that wardens pass the following message in its entirety to members of the American Community:

Saudi authorities are investigating the discovery of an explosive device on the personal vehicle of an American citizen employed at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh. On the morning of June 29, 2002, the American and his spouse discovered an unfamiliar and suspicious object attached underneath the vehicle because the object was dragging on the road as they set off to work. They reported it to the Saudi police and the police secured the device and removed it. Further examination by the police determined that it was an explosive device. The Embassy is following closely the investigation into this incident and is making inquiries with Saudi authorities.

In addition, on June 30, a suspicious object was found attached to the underside of a vehicle owned by a British citizen at the Al Nakheel Residence Compound. The Saudi police removed the object and an investigation is underway.

The Embassy reminds American citizens of the Department of State's current Public Announcement - Middle East and North Africa Update, distributed on May 22, 2002 as Warden Notice #14/2002, available at the Consular Affairs internet web site (http://travel.state.gov), on the Embassy home page (http://usembassy/state.gov/riyadh), or by calling the Embassy in Riyadh at 01-488-3800 and pressing option 7. In this public announcement, the Department warns that "there is growing concern that individuals may be planning terrorist action against United States citizens and interests, as well as tourist sites frequented by Westerners, in the region of the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, and North Africa." In light of these reports, prudence dictates that American citizens continue to follow good personal security practices. These include maintaining a low profile, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, varying routes and times for all required travel, and treating mail from unfamiliar sources with suspicion.

With respect to vehicles, American citizens in Saudi Arabia should avoid leaving their cars unattended and keep them locked at all times. If left unattended, a thorough inspection of your vehicle, both interior and exterior, is strongly advised. Inspection should include use of a flashlight to search underneath the car and checking under the hood and in the trunk. Know your car well. If any foreign objects or unfamiliar attachments are noticed in any place on, in, or under the vehicle, do not touch them. Contact your company representative or call the Saudi police by dialing 999. If you are not fluent in Arabic, you should have someone who is fluent assist you if you call the police.

#17/2002

drafted:CONS:CGlatz (6/30/02) L:Common:Warden faxnet:Warden Messages 2002

Department of State (CA/OCS Duty Officer)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.