Anger At Saudi Bomb Claims

Independent (UK) ^ | Steve Boggan

[Charge Carrier]

Anger at Saudi bomb claims

By Steve Boggan
22 June 2002

The British government has made a formal complaint to Saudi Arabia in response to security officials in Riyadh linking the murder of a Briton in a car bombing to an illegal alcohol racket.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, is understood to be angry at suggestions by unnamed officials that Simon Veness, 35, a British banker, was blown up on Thursday as part of what the Saudis insist is an alcohol turf war.

Five other Britons, two of whom are thought to have been sentenced to death, are in prison over an earlier bombing campaign during which another Englishman, Christopher Rodway, died. They have withdrawn confessions thought to have been made under duress.

Foreign Office sources say the British chargé d'affaires in Riyadh, Dominic Asquith, handed a written complaint to the Saudi authorities yesterday morning. Mr Straw was said to be concerned the officials had told some Saudi journalists that Mr Veness had been involved in illegal activity.

Ghazi Algosaibi, the Saudi ambassador, had also issued a statement in which he described claims that the bomb was probably the work of an Islamist terrorist cell as "pure speculation". A source said: "It seems grossly unfair to tarnish Mr Veness's name like this. We thought it only right to complain to put a halt to whatever briefing is going on in Riyadh."

Mr Straw has asked British officials in Saudi Arabia to investigate the claims against Mr Veness. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was "very concerned" about them.

Mr Veness, from Kent, was blown up near the al-Nakheel Westerners residential compound. He was working as an investment risk controller for Al-Saudi al-Fransi bank in Riyadh. He and his pregnant South African wife were due to return to London in two weeks.

[Charge Carrier]

Posting is by 'blam' visiting 'Charge Carrier'

[spyone]

All booze arrives in Saudi Arabia under royal seal. The princes then sell it thru their channels, keeping their personal requirements. Many entrepreneurs/foreigners are involved in the trade as the princes need the buffer. Something is going on in the indusry as many foreigners/enterpreneurs are being killed etc., including a fellow local to me. My guess is it is fanatical Wahhabi Islamists who know what is going on. One more step in the unravelling Saudi state. 10 years from now, there won't be a saudi state as we know it. Who knows what the replacement will be. Hope it is not bad for us.

[LenS]

This has nothing to do with the alcohol trade. Foreigners are being killed by Bin Laden types. The govt. refuses to admit they have a problem with the radicals, so they blame other foreigners.

[Charge Carrier]

"10 years from now, there won't be a saudi state as we know it. Who knows what the replacement will be. Hope it is not bad for us.

How could they be any worse than our Saudi friends now?

[spyone]

Agree. Except the alcohol trade is THE providence of the saudi princes. No better way to put the fear of God in them. This is scaring them to death. The extemists are toying with the princes.

[Shermy]

Here's some links I think you'll like:

Briton Killed in Saudi Blast

Here's an index from the Guardian Newspaper of Saudi stories, especially about the Brits in the alleged "alcohol gangs" and their torture. The lisiting is a bit unchronological, but the best stories start around Jan. 30

Guardian Special Report - Saudi bombings.

And another FR thread to boot:

Saudi 'slur' on Briton killed by bomb

Sorry about your neighbor.

[spyone]

Thank you!

[river rat]

The House of Saud is a diseased whore that gave birth to and sustains radical/militant Islam...
The two faced lying bitch has earned our hatred, and deserves to feel the wrath of a brutal American vengence.
Semper Fi