Terrorists Strike in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

Nothing much on it right now, so far 5 people are dead and 3 of them are of western nationality.

We are on lock down right now. the attack happened outside of a residential compound. well, hopefully the news stations will have more on it soon.

Don't think I am going to go to Khobar anytime in the near future. Damn Terrorism sucks. Time to start eating delivery.

just spreading the news, since I don't think I am the only one in the region.

EDIT: There are attack Choppers hoovering over our main gate to our compoud. geez. So much for going out to Khobar to buy some new shoes and some shwarmas....damnit.

edit EDIT: A family friend was shot in the leg this morning. She was on her way to her job, she is a teacher at the Dhahran Academy.

 

Thanks DoD. I don't know how much longer I am going to stay in Saudi. I was planning on staying till July 25th, now I don't know if I will stay beyond June 25th. Even if that far.

Update on the shootings says that 6 people have died, sadly one of the deaths was that of a friend of mine. He lived in a compound called Oasis that was attacked this morning. His family will be leaving back to the USA later this week.

Also, another family friend was shot in both legs while in her house. The bullets went through her house. She is currently in a local hospital.

Man. I don't know about coming back here again. I am scheduled to make a return later in December. Hopefully things will calm down, but this attack was way too close for comfort. And I know a few of the casualties.

 

Report: 1 American Killed in Saudi Attack

Saturday, May 29, 2004

DAMMAN, Saudi Arabia — Saudi security forces stormed an expatriate residential complex Saturday seeking gunmen who had taken hostages after a shooting rampage on two compounds housing oil company offices, killing at least six people — including a 10-year-old boy.

At least one American and two other Westerners were among those killed in the second deadly attack on oil industry targets in the Saudi kingdom this month. There were reports the death toll could be as high as 15.

Saudi forces fired shots inside the residential complex in the eastern city of Khobar (search), officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. They gave no further details.

Earlier, a police officer inside the housing compound told The Associated Press that all hostages had been released and negotiations were under way

Reuters news service is reporting that a purported statement from Al Qaeda (search) is claiming responsibility for the attack, but that development could not be independently confirmed.

According to Reuters, an Islamist Web site carried the following message: "With the grace of God, a squadron of our heroic mujahideen have today stormed American companies... that are specialised in oil and which steal the wealth of Muslims," and was signed "al Qaeda network in the Arabian Peninsula."

Witnesses and diplomats gave conflicting accounts of the shooting, and estimates of the number of dead ranged as high as eight. Some who saw the attack spoke of four gunmen in military-style dress attacking two oil company offices, while a western diplomat in Saudi Arabia said three compounds were attacked.

Other witnesses said they saw three men with western features lying on the ground covered with newspapers. Those bodies were taken away in ambulances, they said. The nationalities of the foreigners were not known, but British officials were en route to Khobar to check rumors a British national was killed, according to the Foreign Office in London.

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh (search) would not say whether any Americans were hurt or killed. "We have received reports of an incident, and we are investigating it," an embassy official in Riyadh said on condition of anonymity.

If Westerners are indeed among the dead, it will be only the latest such attack in Saudi Arabia, which has launched a high-profile crackdown on terrorists following attacks on Riyadh housing compounds in 2003.

The most recent attack targeted the offices of Houston-based ABB Lummus Global Inc. in the western city of Yanbu on May 1, killing six Westerners and a Saudi. In April, attackers bombed a security building in Riyadh, killing five people and injuring 148.

A week ago, a German who worked as a chef for Saudi Arabia's national airline was shot and killed by unknown assailants.

In Saturday's attack, two security guards were believed to be dead, according to the Western diplomat who said there were three separate attacks. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity.

Witnesses said that after a shootout with security forces, the gunmen took refuge in a compound housing Arabs and westerners in Khobar, located 250 miles northeast of the capital, Riyadh.

At least 10 ambulances were seen outside the Oases compound, an upscale residential complex owned by a Saudi businessman, one witness said. He said he was told by a policeman that gunmen were apparently holding hostages.

Hundreds of policemen surrounded the compound, and helicopters hovered overhead, witnesses said. They said they had heard of eight people killed at two compounds containing oil company offices.

Saudi Interior Ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment. U.S. Embassy officials also could not be reached.

Witnesses, all of whom spoke on condition they not be identified, said the four attackers used a small car and were accompanied by another sports utility vehicle.

The government says it has foiled dozens of terror attacks in the kingdom. Most of the attacks were blamed on Al Qaeda.



I wish this kind of thing would never happen. Oh well, I guess it can't be avoided for much longer. There are a lot of injured people.

The lady who was shot in the legs, a family friend, was talking to her husband on the phone while the attack started. she said she heard gun shots and her husband told her to run to her storage room and get down. She did, but then she heard someone trying to break down her door. So she got up and ran going out the back of the house. As she went out the back they stormed in the front and shot at her and hit her twice in her legs. Glad she is doing ok, it must have been very frietening.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,121282,00.html
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=519900&section=news

 

Thanks guys, I think this might be the wake up call for us to pack our things and get out with all our possessions while we still can. Man this sucks, since I have been here since '89.

Damn...15 people dead now....

 

Yes, I do feel more secure because of the gates. ARAMCO no longer keeps out Saudis, it used to be like the Oasis compound where only foregieners lived. so the scary part is that some of the people living in the compound could be potential attackers. That is what's scary. You never know who could be planning something from the inside.

Oasis is about 10min from my house here in Aramco. It's by the Souks.

The Hostage situation is ongoing. I feel so bad for the hostages. The really sad part is that the majority of the hostages most likely are women, since their husbands were away working when the attack happened. The attack happened around 8:30am today (well around that time, I heard about it around 9am Saudi time).

Yes, it only houses foreigners. Saudi's are not permitted to live/enter the compound. it is heavily guarded. You must drive up through a narrow road that is surounded with concrete baracades.

The hostage situation is still ongoing. no info on the nationalities of the hostages, but they are most likely of Asian, and Western Decent. Arabs of other nationalites were among the casualties.

This is really sad....damn. SCREW the terrorists! I hope we wipe them all out.

The Crown Prince made a speech that the terrorists will be delt with force.

Thanks for the prayers guys, and the be safe posts. We do have everything locked up right now. The area is in a lock down. This attack was too close for comfort. I just don't know how things are going to be. We will see how it goes in the near future.

Adeel. I hope you can get ahold of your father, and hope he is ok. Man...what is the world coming to. I miss the early 90's....

Again, thanks guys, I will do my best to stay safe for the remainder of the time I am away from home.