AL QAEDA BLAMED ON SAUDI SUICIDE ATTACK

[AussieMark]

Saudi Suicide Attack Kills Up to 30, Qaeda Blamed

RIYADH (Reuters) - Suspected al Qaeda suicide bombers posing as Saudi police blew up their explosives-laden car in a Riyadh compound housing mostly Arab foreigners on Sunday, tearing it apart and killing between 20 and 30 people.

The powerful blast ripped an avenue of destruction between 200 villas in the compound in the capital just days after Western nations issued fresh terror alerts and Washington shut its missions in the kingdom, the world's biggest oil exporter.

"The attackers got into the compound by disguising themselves as Saudi security. They wore security uniforms and drove into the compound in a vehicle similar to that used by police," a Saudi security source told Reuters.

A diplomat confirmed the report.

The security source said there were at least two attackers.

The bombers shot their way into the guarded Muhaya complex and detonated at least one car packed with explosives. Most residents were families of middle-class professionals from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinian territories.

"This is a crime against innocents. It is an al Qaeda operation. This is a suicide operation," the security source said.

Saudi authorities have yet to give an official toll but senior Western diplomats said the blast, which coincided with the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, killed between 20 and 30 people and injured up to 100.

The security source said at least eight civilians were dead and over 100 injured. Lebanese officials said three nationals died and Egypt's official MENA new agency said an Egyptian couple and their two children were killed.

A Reuters correspondent at the scene said: "I saw two bodies, one being carried away and another lying on the grass of the compound. Whole walls of the 200 villas were blown out and glass covered the compound."

Saudi Arabia, birthplace of Islam and of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is battling a surge in Islamist violence.

In May a triple suicide bombing at Riyadh housing compounds killed 35 people, including nine Americans, and was blamed on al Qaeda.

ROYAL HOMES NEARBY

A Western diplomat said Interior Minister Prince Nayef and other Saudi royals had private homes near the compound on the western outskirts of Riyadh.

The diplomat said the compound might have been chosen as a "soft target" after a recent crackdown on al Qaeda militants.

As rescuers searched amid rubble and raging fires, a senior Western diplomat said: "Our best guess is that between 20 to 30 were killed."

One American was injured and another was reported missing, a U.S. diplomat said, but it was unknown if they were of dual nationality. In Washington, a State Department spokeswoman said: "It appears that no U.S. diplomats live at the compounds."

Bin Laden's supporters have threatened to attack Saudi rulers and Westerners in the kingdom. Bin Laden last month vowed to strike American targets inside and outside the United States.

SECURITY CONCERN

The attack underlines concern in oil markets that Riyadh has failed to contain a rising wave of terror which some analysts fear could one day strike the kingdom's oil export and production facilities.

Major international oil companies contacted by Reuters said they had no plans to evacuate staff after the attack. Some played down its significance, saying militants' attacks in the past had failed to drive away foreign business.

The explosion gouged a crater five yards wide and two yards deep. Children's toys were strewn among the rubble and sofas, baths and beds spilled out onto the road.

Soldiers, police, medics and firefighters rushed to try to find survivors under the debris, using detectors and search lights. Helicopters flew overhead and police sirens wailed.

The acrid smell of explosives filled the air and smoke was rising from the rubble hours after the attack.
The explosion shook windows in central Riyadh several miles away. Many of the injured were children under 10.

Saudi forces have killed five Islamist militants in clashes since Monday, when authorities said they had foiled a planned attack on Muslim pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca.

On Friday, the United States issued its second security warning on Saudi Arabia in recent days, saying "terrorists" were planning attacks in the kingdom. U.S. missions were shut on Saturday for a security review.

After the Muhaya attack, the U.S. embassy and the French advised personnel and dependants to be vigilant and not to leave their compounds. (additional reporting by Peg Mackey)

[BEER980]

Well we can't say we didn't warn them, right. Interesting target though. I wonder why they chose that area.

[Josephine96]

They chose that area because ever since 9/11 they haven't been too bright lol I really don't know why they chose that area

[Lindaloo]

They chose that area of civilians because they are nothing but a bunch of cowards!!

[Josephine96]

Linda Loo.. That pretty much covers it. I was thinking "not too bright" because I thought they'd wanna kill as many as they did in 9/11.. the Cole or even Bali...

[streetsoldier]

Al Qaida would LOVE to topple the Saudi royal family...recall that Osama bin Laden was refused entry to Saudi Arabia after he was deported from Sudan, and was denied a role in the first Gulf War. He believes that the common people in Saudi Arabia are ripe for revolution...with himself as their "al-Mahdi" (Muslim equivalent of "Messiah").

Hence, these attacks don't surprise me at all...Al Qaida is "mad at the world", until THEY control it.

[Lindaloo]

Bunch of faceless fly by night killers is what they are!!! Let them show their faces just once!!