Student Stabs Principal in Saudi Arabia
KERALAMONITOR.COM TERRORISM SPECIAL Saudi Blasts have "all earmarks of Al-Qaeda": Powell
AMMAN, May 13- Bomb attacks targeting foreigner's residential compounds in the capital of Saudi Arabia Monday night had "all the earmarks of al-Qaeda," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said here on Tuesday.Speaking at a press conference, Powell said "It's just part of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations' willingness to kill innocent people in order to push forward a criminal agenda."
A terrorist agenda that very often had no purpose, had no meaning other than to strike out in rage, he said. "I condemn the terrorist attacks that took place in Saudi Arabia overnight, I condemn the cowerdly individuals who sneaked in the middle of the night to kill innocent civilians," Powell said.
"Once again it reminds us that terrorism is a global phenomenon...that the United States will not be deterred from pursing the interests of peace around the world," Powell said. Powell said he did not know if the attacks were linked to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The bomb explosions killed at least three people and wounded 50 more others in Riyahh, reports reaching here said. Powell is in a Middle East tour which will also take him to Saudi Arabia. -keralamonitor.com
3 Dutch expats injured in Saudi bomb attacks
BRUSSELS, May 13 -- Three Dutch people were among those injured in the deadly bomb attacks on three compounds housing westerners in the Saudi capital city of Riyadh Monday night, Dutch Foreign Ministry officials in the Hague confirmed on Tuesday.At least 10 US citizens and "many others" have reportedly been killed in the explosions for which no organization has claimed responsibility.
Dutch authorities confirmed one of the three Hollanders was seriously wounded and is being treated in an intensive care unit while the other two escaped with lesser injuries. Between 450 and 500 Dutch expats are believed to be living in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials said the assailants shot their way into the gated communities before setting off their explosives-laden vehicles in suicide attacks. US Secretary of State Colin Powell, who arrived in Saudi Arabiafor a visit hours after the attacks, condemned the attacks as "cowardly" operation.
British PM's wife pulls out of London charity event for security reason
LONDON, May 13 -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife Cherie withdrew from a charity event in a central London hotel on the advice of her security staff, organizers said Tuesday. Cherie Blair had planned to attend an annual dinner on Monday evening at London's Dorchester Hotel in aid of the charity Parentsand Abducted Children Together.
"There was some concern as someone had apparently telephoned the Dorchester and gave some sort of warning message," said Lady Catherine Meyer, organizer of the event."The detectives in charge of Cherie's security decided it may be too dangerous for her to come," she added.The organizers said they could understand the withdrawal decision of Cherie. "We completely understand that she must listen to her security people," said Catherine
Saudi Police creates special Checkpoints to nab Suspected Al Queeda Members, offer Huge Ransom for Information about them.
JEDDAH, 10 May 2003 — Saudi Arabia is intensifying efforts to nab terrorists who were planning major attack within the Kingdom. At least three of the 19 wanted Al-Qaeda suspects who escaped on Tuesday after a shootout with police fled in a Mercedes which was parked in front of a car maintenance workshop on the Riyadh-Dammam Expressway, Al-Watan Newspaper reported yesterday. The terror suspects took the car at gunpoint. According to he Arabic daily Saudi police did not open fire on the suspects because of the risk to bystanders. “Police also wanted to arrest them unhurt to question them about their contacts,” the paper added.The suspects, who had earlier been using a Honda car, opened fire on police who gave chase. The hunt for the suspects lasted for 15 minutes, the paper said, starting in the Ashbeliya district east of Riyadh and ending at the workshop.
“The suspects abandoned their (Honda) car in front of the workshop as its front wheel blew up,” the paper said. “They got into the Mercedes under cover of gunfire and escaped into a densely populated district.” Security agencies have intensified their presence along the expressways from Riyadh to various parts of the Kingdom in their bid to track down the suspects. According to Watan passengers said that they had seen several checkpoints on roads out of the capital city.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif announced a reward of up to SR300,000 for information leading to the capture of 19 fugitive Al-Qaeda members and SR50,000 for those who tipped security personnel off about them. Security forces on Tuesday uncovered an Al-Qaeda terrorist cell in the capital’s Jazira district. Seventeen of the 19 on the run are Saudis. Prince Naif said the extremists believed in the idea of launching suicide attacks. “They are young and have been brainwashed,” he told the Arab News.
Suspected Arab extremists being hunted by Saudi security forces in the Kingdom.
RIYADH, 10May 2003 — A group of Al Qaeda supporters who were planning attacks in Saudi Arabia are being hunted down in Riyadh following a shootout with security forces raiding its hide-out. According to the Saudi Interior Ministry, the group was discovered to have built up a cache of arms, including 55 hand grenades, 377 kilograms (829 pounds) of explosives, and 2,545 bullets of different calibers, as well as cash and various disguises. The ministry is seeking “19 terrorists, 17 of them Saudis. More names are to be added to the wanted list later. The two non-Saudis being sought are a Yemeni and an Iraqi with joint Kuwaiti-Canadian nationality.
The group with clear links to Afghanitan and Al Qaeda carried RDX which has hugely destructive potential.The shootout started late Tuesday evening as police were searching for those responsible for a March 18 bomb incident which killed a Saudi in the capital’s Jazira district. The gunmen’s getaway car broke down, but they were able to steal another vehicle at gunpoint and disappear into the teeming neighborhood. Saudi police discovered “55 hand grenades, 295 bullets, seven empty magazines, travel documents, identity cards and $72,957 cash” in the car, the ministry said.
A subsequent search of their hide-out turned up “377 kilograms (829 pounds) of explosives, four Kalashnikovs, three chests containing 2,250 bullets... 82 magazines (of bullets) and communications equipment.” A search of another vehicle parked in the courtyard of the raided house in the Ashbeliya district, east of Riyadh, netted “three Kalashnikovs, wigs and other disguises.” Some of the individuals were leaving the house as security forces arrived, and were followed. It was at that point that the extremists opened fire and made their escape.The US State Department said last week that it had received intelligence reports indicating “terrorist” groups may be in the final phases of planning attacks against the American community in Saudi Arabia.
The State Department warning came after an American working at a Saudi naval base was shot and injured. Washington has issued a new travel advisory warning its nationals against non-essential travel to the Kingdom, and urging private citizens here to consider leaving.
Meanwhile, Al-Majalla, reported that Al-Qaeda is preparing a new attack in the United States on the scale of Sept. 11 after adopting a new operational structure which is impenetrable to US intelligence. “An attack against America is inevitable,” Al-Majalla quotes the militant network’s newly appointed spokesman Thabet ibn Qais as saying in an e-mail to the magazine.
Al-Qaeda has “carried out changes in its leadership and sidelined the Sept, 11, 2001 team”, the magazine quotes Ibn Qais as saying. “Future missions have been entrusted to the new team, which is well protected against the US intelligence services. The old leadership does not know the names of any of its members.” Ibn Qais mocks concerns expressed by Washington about a possible Al-Qaeda attack on its consulate in the Pakistani metropolis of Karachi, saying the network’s target is the United States itself.
“Of course, the US Consulate in Karachi is a US interest and a staging post for Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel in Pakistan, but it doesn’t necessarily constitute a pressing target. Striking it is not a priority for Al-Qaeda compared with the plans under way preparing a new attack in the United States on the scale of Sept. 11.”The purported message from Al-Qaeda scoffed at recent press reports that US agents are hot on the trail of its leader Osama Bin Laden, whose whereabouts have been a mystery since the ouster of his Taleban sponsors in Afghanistan in late 2001.“We keep our cool in the face of such reports, just as we do when the Americans say they have uncovered new Al-Qaeda plans or arrested our leaders,” Ibn Qais is quoted as saying.
Riyadh Daily to Close down
RIYADH, 10 May 2003 - The English-language newspaper Riyadh Daily, published in the Saudi capital city, will cease publication from next month following a decision of its publishers, Al-Yamamah Press Est. This was announced here yesterday by Talaat F. Wafa, editor in chief of Riyadh Daily. A sister publication of the widely circulated Arabic daily Al-Riyadh, Riyadh Daily is said to be making financial losses for the publishing company. Wafa said that "the management has informed me that the publication of Riyadh Daily will continue for one more month."
The newspaper was about to cease publication from May 10, but the deadline was deferred following the management's decision late on Wednesday to continue publication for one more month.
Founded in 1967 and launched 17 years ago, the 20-page Riyadh Daily is the first English-language newspaper to cease publication in Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Daily enjoys a sizeable readership base among Filipinos in Saudi Arabia. Among the Kingdom's three English-language dailies, Riyadh Daily is the least circulated. According to a study, the best title for advertisers to reach non-Arab executives in Saudi Arabia has been Arab News, holding 71.6 percent of the readership share. Riyadh Daily attracts only 11.5 percent of readers.
Student Stabs Principal in Saudi Arabia
AHSA, 8 May 2003 - A high school student stabbed his principal three times in the shoulder. The source of the problem was that 35 students were late for school. According to Okaz newspaper, the school principal advised them against tardiness and allowed them to go to their classes. One student, however, began to swear at the principal who then told him to go home and return with his father. He returned with his father, who apologized for his son's behavior. The son was unwilling to admit his mistake and returned to the school a short time later and stabbed the principal.
