Militants hold 50 foreigners in Saudi-manager

[seruriermarshal]

29 May 2004 17:34:21 GMT

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, May 29 (*******) - Suspected al Qaeda militants have taken hostage 50 foreigners, including Italians and Americans, on Saturday, a manager of the housing compound where they are behing held said.

"They are holding 50 foreign hostages," the manager of the Oasis compound told *******. "There are Americans, but there are more Italians. There are also Arabs."

Security sources said the Arabs being held were Christians. The militants killed at least 16 people, including seven foreigners, in a string of attacks in the oil city of Khobar.


From (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L29300173.htm)

[mack pl]

I hope hostages will be safe soon :|

[seruriermarshal]

I hope hostages will be safe soon :|

Yes , hope they are safe ......

:|

[duck]

How long does it take to get SOF troops stationed in Iraq or the Gulf States to Khobar? The western hostages are going to die if there is no rescue attempt, AQ groups have their own pattern.

[seruriermarshal]

How long does it take to get SOF troops stationed in Iraq or the Gulf States to Khobar? The western hostages are going to die if there is no rescue attempt, AQ groups have their own pattern.

In fact Saudi Arabia to AQ is so important .

[Trident-za]

This is not good...

It sort of ties in with my suggestion that terrorism is going to spread outside of either Afghanistan or Iraq. I hope the hostages are doing OK, and that this problem will be resolved soon.

[ßå$tĮТHÏ¿ð]

Im sure there are the proper authorites working to solve this, but in perspective this looks bad as this shows theres still Al-Q operatives operating in other countries besides Iraq and A-stan.

[seruriermarshal]

Im sure there are the proper authorites working to solve this, but in perspective this looks bad as this shows theres still Al-Q operatives operating in other countries besides Iraq and A-stan.

I'm afraid Al-Q will have more attack .

[seruriermarshal]

More news:


Qaeda Militants Kill 16, Hold 50 Hostage in SaudiArabia

By Samia Nakhoul

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (*******) - Suspected al Qaeda militants killed at least 16 people, including Westerners, and seized 50 foreigners as hostages in a Saudi city on Saturday in an attack on the world's biggest oil exporter.

Saudi forces stormed the Oasis housing compound, where the hostages were being held, in the eastern city of Khobar after the militants -- spraying gunfire at several buildings in their attack -- killed at least nine Saudis and seven foreigners.

"They are holding 50 foreign hostages. There are Americans, but there are more Italians. There are also Arabs," said a compound manager, declining to be named. He said there was an Italian restaurant in the complex, home to at least 20 Italians.

Shots rang out in the area as fighting raged between the militants and Saudi forces, who have been battling for a year to stamp out al Qaeda attacks in the kingdom -- a key U.S. ally.

The attack is the second in a month to target the oil industry and Westerners who form a large part of its workforce. Markets have been on edge over the possibility of a militant strike disrupting oil supplies because the situation in Saudi Arabia has already helped push world prices to $40 a barrel.

"NERVE CENTER"

"This is close to the nerve center of the Saudi oil industry, (state oil firm) Aramco headquarters in Dhahran," said Yasser Elguindi, an analyst with Medley Global Advisers in New York. "It could have a devastating impact on the oil market when we reopen (on Tuesday) after the Memorial Day weekend."

An American, a Briton, an Egyptian, two Filipinos, an Indian and a Pakistani were killed in the attack, along with two Saudis and seven security force members, the security sources said.

"We can verify that at least one American citizen has been injured and one killed," said Joanne Moore, a State Department spokeswoman.

Ambulances carried on rushing into the compound, suggesting the death toll might rise.

Witnesses said the militants tied the body of the Briton, an employee of Arab oil firm Apicorp, to a car and dragged it 1.2 miles before dumping it near a bridge.

Apicorp said three of its employees were among the dead.

A statement purportedly from Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network was posted on Islamist Internet sites claiming responsibility for the attack, the third on foreigners in less than a month in the birthplace of Islam.

Al Qaeda has vowed to destabilize the U.S.-allied kingdom. In 1996, the group chose Khobar to mount one of its first major attacks, killing 19 U.S. soldiers at a compound.

HUMAN SHIELDS

A policeman said the militants were using the hostages as human shields and that officials were trying to negotiate.

"Security forces are worried about storming because the gunmen have grenades," he said.

The kingdom's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Abdullah, vowed to crush the militants who he said were harming the economy.

"We will continue to chase this deviant group until we eradicate them," he said in remarks on the Saudi Press Agency.

Saturday's attack prompted the U.S. embassy to reiterate a call last month for its citizens to leave the kingdom.

Oil industry sources said Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi was set to meet Western oil company executives in the nearby city of Dhahran to reassure them after the attack.

An Oasis compound employee said the militants had asked residents to show identity cards to find out their religions.

"(The militants) were asking people if they were Christian or Muslims," he said.

Saudi state television showed footage of a man with Western features, slumped in his car, apparently shot dead. It also showed a charred car and a third blood-spattered vehicle.

GUNFIRE AT OIL OFFICES

The attackers opened fire at the Al-Khobar Petroleum Center building, believed to house offices of major Western oil firms, before storming into compounds with oil services offices and homes of employees, the security sources said.

Witnesses said the attackers drove cars with military markings into the Apicorp complex and opened fire. An Egyptian boy was killed when a school bus came under fire.

They also entered the Rami and Oasis compounds, where they took people hostage. Five Lebanese were later released.

Employees of Shell, Honeywell and General Electric lived in one of the compounds. The Oasis residence has housed executives from leading oil firms Royal Dutch/Shell, Total and LUKOIL.

The attack occurred two days after the top al Qaeda leader in the kingdom, Abdulaziz al-Muqrin, issued plans for urban guerrilla warfare designed to topple the royal family.

Earlier this month militants killed five foreigners in an attack on a petrochemical site in the Red Sea town of Yanbu and dragged the body of an American through the streets.

[MetalBoy]

I hope the hostages are safely rescued before anything can happen to them, but realistically I don't see how there will be a positive outcome to this situation. The terrorists are holed up in a building surrounded by Saudi security forces right now, and I don't think they expect to come out of this alive, thus it wouldn't be hard for them to take as many hostages down with them in a blaze of gunfire. Hopefully the Saudi forces can kill these terrorists before thye kill any more innocents.

[scrybe]

Been watching the updates about this on TV. Was upsetting to hear about them being used as human shields.

[seruriermarshal]

Been watching the updates about this on TV. Was upsetting to hear about them being used as human shields.

Sad message , you have more message ?

:(

[ariweiner]

These "militants" are really stupid idiots...how this is helping whatever cause they are fighting for is beyond me...

[Mark Sman]

It sort of ties in with my suggestion that terrorism is going to spread outside of either Afghanistan or Iraq.

Saudi Arabia had quite the little problem with terrorism before 9/11.

US and Italian forces probably can't do a rescue here because internal Saudi forces will want to handle it. The Saudi CT teams are up to it though. More depends on the political will of the Saudi royal family than the CT forces.

The Sauds could greenlight a foreign mission in the country if the political winds blow that way, biut I doubt it.

[duck]

It sort of ties in with my suggestion that terrorism is going to spread outside of either Afghanistan or Iraq.

Saudi Arabia had quite the little problem with terrorism before 9/11.

US and Italian forces probably can't do a rescue here because internal Saudi forces will want to handle it. The Saudi CT teams are up to it though. More depends on the political will of the Saudi royal family than the CT forces.

The Sauds could greenlight a foreign mission in the country if the political winds blow that way, biut I doubt it.

Then let's just hope the vetting process for the Saudi CT teams is foolproof and that there are no AQ infliltrators in them.

[scattergun]

From CNN:

"Gunman in a Saudi city are holding a number of Western and Asian hostages in a housing compound after killing at least 11 people in three attacks, informed sources and Saudi officials say. One American, one Briton and a 10-year-old boy are among the dead, Saudi sources say. Saudi officials say the attackers are on a list of wanted militants and many of them have links to the al Qaeda network.

Condolences to the families.

It seems to me that SAS, ST6, Delta will be involved in this? Good luck lads.

[seruriermarshal]

From CNN:

"Gunman in a Saudi city are holding a number of Western and Asian hostages in a housing compound after killing at least 11 people in three attacks, informed sources and Saudi officials say. One American, one Briton and a 10-year-old boy are among the dead, Saudi sources say. Saudi officials say the attackers are on a list of wanted militants and many of them have links to the al Qaeda network.

Condolences to the families.

It seems to me that SAS, ST6, Delta will be involved in this? Good luck lads.

Now more messages from there ?

[Nizark]

Sadly, i seriously doubt thsi will turn out well. When AQ takes hostages, the attackers generally have bomb belts, along with their weapons, thus there will be no way that they can be interrogated. Sorry to be the devils advocate, but I see 50% of the hostages being killed, the building leveled, and the rest of the hostages with severe injuries. The Saudi military has been pentrated on all levels, and AQ has an amazing intellgence capability. I wish that the saudi's would let delta, seals, GROM and SAS in there to take care of it, but they won't until a bunch of the hostages are killed, and at that point, its too late.

[One?]

lebanese hostages were released....hopefuly the rest will be out soon.

[Fioraon]

If anyone is going to get out alive Im willing to bet it wont be the Americans. God Bless, and raise hell!

[Fioraon]

Wow, these guys just picked a fight with about everyone but the Russians it appears.

[duck]

The terrorists are said to be in uníforms and using law enforcement/military vehicles. Either they had logistical support from inside those institutions or are in fact LEO/military personnel. The CPA/Central Command is certain to have a CT unit on stand-by in Iraq/Kuwait/Bahrain and I'm fairly sure they are either on the scene or at an USAF base in Saudi Arabia by now.

If the Saudis can keep Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera away they might allow a dedicated foreign CT unit to storm the compound as long as it's kept confidential.

[n4292936]

I used to live in Dharan Saudi Arabia for 11 years, about 30 minutes drive from where this is happening. The Oasis compound is failry open plan and I cant recall ever seeing a security guard on duty who detered me from sneaking around the area at night as a kid, or who caught me and about 4 other 11 year olds. As Im sure many of you are aware, the saudi CT forces track record isnt much better. There is a military base close to Khobar (my parents use to go there to give stuff to the troops and I dutifully tagged along), near the Dharan International Airport, if the US get invovled covertly it'll come from there.

[Nizark]

These fockers asked everyone if they are christians or muslims. The lebanese were released becaus ethey were muslim. The arabs being held are christian

[MEGR]

You think they'll try to rescue them? Maybe a joint ct team? I don't know, all that matters is that they can get out safely. Hope the Saudis can negotiate something....

[J-10]

http://wwwi.*******.com/images/saudi_khobar_map.gif

[usa320]

I have a tidbit of good news. According to a Fox News Alert aired about 3 minutes ago, Saudi Security Forces have begun a counter attack, and according to initial reports 7 Americans have been rescued. No word on the rest of the hostages at this time.

[J-10]

sorry repeat

[J-10]

sorry repeat posted, ;)

[J-10]

http://www.arabnews.com/2004/05/terror30_.jpg
[quote]
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=45946&d=30&m=5&y=2004

[seruriermarshal]

I have a tidbit of good news. According to a Fox News Alert aired about 3 minutes ago, Saudi Security Forces have begun a counter attack, and according to initial reports 7 Americans have been rescued. No word on the rest of the hostages at this time.

Really ? God bless , thank you usa320 , and hope other hostages are safe .

[usa320]

I think the US policy of providing Military aid is starting to pay off. In Saudi Arabia, The Phillipines- in Yemen and Ethiopia- weve seen US forces training foreign CT forces, who before we poorly equipped and trained. Now they are turning into a force to be reckoned with.

[One?]

A chinook helicopter dropped Saudi forces ontop of a building. Watch CNN for more ifno.

[seruriermarshal]

A chinook helicopter dropped Saudi forces ontop of a building. Watch CNN for more ifno.

SF in the chinook helicopter ?