US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Says Risk of Further Terrorist Attacks Against US and Western Interests in Saudi Arabia is High - 2003-05-29

The US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia stated that the risk of further terrorist attacks against US and Western interests in Saudi Arabia is high. Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Interior Minister, announced that several suspects have been arrested in Medina, the holy city for Muslims. Ali Abdulrahman al-Qamdi, described by Saudi officials as the mastermind behind the suicide bombings on May 12 at residential complexes for foreigners in the Saudi capital, was among those arrested. In these attacks, 34 people, including 8 Americans, were killed. Although US and Saudi officials believe that the al-Qaeda terrorist network is responsible for this terrorist attack, they say it is still unclear whether the arrested individuals are members of al-Qaeda. On Wednesday, Robert Jordan, the US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said that the risk of further terrorist attacks against US and Western interests in Saudi Arabia is high. Mr. Jordan stated that there is no evidence indicating that the bombings in Riyadh were isolated incidents. The US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia described the presence of many individuals who have fought in Afghanistan and others who share al-Qaeda's goals and methods in the country as making the al-Qaeda terrorist network in Saudi Arabia very real and ongoing. Mr. Jordan said that the FBI team investigating the Riyadh bombings is expected to announce the results of their investigation by the end of the week. The United States had previously complained during investigations into past terrorist incidents that Saudi law enforcement officials had obstructed their access to documents, witnesses, and suspects. Saudi officials, who are very upset by the accusations from the United States regarding their insufficient efforts to prevent the bombings, claim that they have taken strict security measures to apprehend those responsible for the bombings and to prevent future attacks.