Three Explosions Rock Saudi Capital (AP/NYT- Filed at 9:19 p.m. ET)

[w4rma]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Three explosions rocked a residential compound in the Saudi capital Saturday night, killing at least two people and wounding 86, in what a government official said was a suicide car bombing.

The attack came a day after the U.S. Embassy warned that terror attacks could be imminent in the tense Gulf kingdom, and America's three diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia were closed Saturday as a result.

Just before the midnight blasts, an unknown number of attackers broke into the upscale compound of about 200 villas, a Saudi official said, and gunfire was heard.

An Interior Ministry official told The Associated Press early Sunday the attack was a suicide car bombing, and that two security guards were killed and 86 people wounded. The official said he believed it was carried out by al-Qaida because of similarities to a May 12 attack in the capital that killed 35 people.
…
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Saudi-Explosion.html

Explosion In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- breaking now (4:30 PM ET Sat)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=207970

[peacetalksforall]

1. Are you saying, there has been another day-night of bombs going off?

n/t

[JNelson6563]

2. truthout says 20-30 dead

http://truthout.org/docs_03/110903A.shtml

Three Explosions Rock Saudi Capital
The Associated Press

Saturday 08 November 2003

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - Three explosions rocked a residential compound in western Riyadh around midnight Saturday, and smoke could be seen rising from the area of the blast.

Diplomats reported one big explosion, followed by two smaller ones 15 seconds apart. The streets were crowded with late night crowds because of Ramadan, the holy month when Muslims fast during the day.

A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said the attack targeted the B2 compound, which is in the Nakheel neighborhood near the Muhaya shopping center. It's a residential area, with mainly Saudis and other Arabs with a few foreigners.

Dozens of police cars and ambulances raced toward the direction of the blasts, sirens wailing, and helicopters hovered overhead. Traffic was tied up across the city.

Rabie Hadeka, a resident inside the targeted compound, told the Al-Arabiya television network that ``about 20 to 30 people have been killed and 50 to 60 injured.''

She told Al-Arabiya that ``shattered glass was spread everywhere after we heard three very strong explosions.''



Julie

[candy331]

3. The US

embassy closed down yesterday so I wonder why the attack? Were they sedding a warning to Saudi royals or what? Anyone guessing?

[Old and In the Way]

4. A destabilization process underway?

The fat Princes of the Kingdom are pretty vulnerable, I think. They've created the conditions for radical Islam to thrive and their obscene wealth has insulated them from the rest of their population. Maybe ripe for a revolution?

Gee, now that I think about it, Al-Qaeda and the current US regime have similar goals in SA.....the PNAC club wants to "democratize" SA and AQ wants to overthrow a corrupt and westernized ruling class.

[bemildred]

5. Hard to say as this point, but stay tuned.

I read elsewhere that we were trying to get them (SA)
to lease us their pipeline to ship Iraqi oil in and were
told to shove off. We are not having any luck with the
Turkish or Haifa routes, the SA connection would seem to
be defensible. There are plenty of other reasons to
think we may have decided to fire them and hire someone
more compliant.