Hostages Held at U.S. Consulate in Jiddah

[Florida_Geek]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Saudi-Explosion.html

December 6, 2004
Hostages Held at U.S. Consulate in Jiddah
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 5:52 a.m. ET

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- An apparent car bomb exploded outside the heavily guarded U.S. consulate in Jiddah on Monday, injuring several people, and Saudi Arabian security forces said four attackers seized an unknown number of hostages inside the building amid a gunbattle.

American officials said no U.S. casualties were reported after the car exploded just in front of the consulate, located in the city's heart near the Red Sea coastline in the latest strike against Western targets in the kingdom.

..a little more at AP

[izzie]

1. As I re-call that was the part of SA that liked us.

We had not been in that part of the country as long as the other side of SA so they had not learned to hate us yet. Guess they have, now.

[bemildred]

6. My understanding is that Asir and the Hijaz are hotbeds of insurrection.

Not merely anti-americanism, but hatred for the Saudis, who
treat the Asiris as 2nd class citizens. All is not peace and
tranquility in SA, and what peace there is is maintained with
an iron fist. The Saudi princes sit uneasy on their throne.

[emad]

2. UPDATE, London Evening Standard

Terrorists hit US consulate
6 December 2004

Attackers have stormed the US consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah today killing four people and taking 18 hostage.

Authorities say that the situation is now under control after a fierce battle between the attackers and the Saudi National Guard. Several of the terrorists have been killed.

The men stormed the consulate after a car bomb exploded at the gates to the building.

Flames could be seen coming from the building and two heavy plumes of smoke rose into the sky. Hundreds of security forces sealed off the area.

More:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/15128523?source=Reuters&ct=5

[emad]

3. UPDATE, The Times

Saudi forces 'kill gunmen and retake US consulate'
By Philippe Naughton, Times Online

Saudi Arabian security forces regained control of the US consulate in Jeddah today, shooting dead three of five gunmen who blasted their way into the heavily-guarded building......................

The attackers apparently used explosives to gain access to the US compound in the Red Sea city, before storming into the building and firing grenades at around 9am UK time.

More than two hours after the attack Saudi officials announced that they had killed three of the militants and regained control of the compound. The two other gunmen were injured and captured. At least four Saudi guards were killed in the attack and two local staff injured, officials said.

"We have accounted for all American diplomats on the compound in Jeddah. There were no American casualties. None are being held hostage. Our local workforce was also on duty this morning. We are still in the process of accounting for all of them," said Carol Kalin, a spokeswoman at the US embassy in Riyadh.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1390906,00.html

[emad]

4. UPDATE, BBC: Up to seven dead

Gun battle at US Jeddah mission


At least seven people are reported to have died after gunmen stormed the US consulate in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

The Saudi interior ministry said three gunmen were killed and two more arrested as security forces gained control of the compound.

Officials said four Saudi troops were killed in the fighting.

In a statement, the ministry said the gunmen threw explosives at the main gate of the consulate from a car and then entered the compound.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4071387.stm

[underpants]

5. FIVE!??! FIVE people (and the car bomber) did this?

During the hostage standoff, the official said, there were some negotiations, but Saudi security forces stormed the attackers when threats were made. There was a brief firefight that ended with the three being killed and two captured, the Saudi official said.

That was what I was thinking this morning as they mentioned the three killed and two captured.

[emad]

7. "Now is the moment to grasp opportunity in the Middle East": Blair

sweet irony?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/default.stm Breaking

[cliss]

8. One wonders what the hell is really going on.

Are these attackers Mujahedin? If they are Jihadis, they are actually secret operatives of the Saudi government. Just like the Jihadists who are causing mayhem in Iraqi.

Seems that the Saudis are secretly funding these groups. Their love for the Americans isn't quite to deep as we thought.

Or are they operating on their own? Funded by Bin Laden, who himself is a Saudi, but has turned away from his family and now he's a renegade. But I've read that blood is thicker than water.....

Man, the twists and turns of this tale. You don't know who is on what side. It's enough to make your head spin. It makes the Byzantine times look easy in comparison.

[grasswire]

9. I wonder why this isn't dominating...

...cable news today? I'm seeing very little coverage. There must be a lid on it.

[TahitiNut]

10. "They want us to leave Saudi Arabia. They want us to leave Iraq." - Smirk

D'oh! :crazy:

People object to a foreign military occupation of their country. Gee, go figure. How long did Smirk work on that one? :puke: