Surviving BBC journo 'stable'

2004-06-07 07:26

Riyadh - A BBC cameraman was shot dead and a fellow journalist wounded in Riyadh on Sunday, the latest in a string of terror attacks by suspected Islamist extremists increasingly targeting Westerners in Saudi Arabia.

Barely a week after gunmen killed 22 people, including several Westerners, in a shooting rampage and hostage-taking drama in the eastern oil city of Al-Khobar, the Irish cameraman and British journalist came under fire in the Al-Suwaidi district in southern Riyadh near the home of a top wanted militant.

The BBC confirmed in London late on Sunday that cameraman Simon Cumbers, 36, was killed while security correspondent Frank Gardner, 42, was injured and was being treated in hospital in the Saudi capital.

Gardner "is a leading expert on Al-Qaeda and works full-time reporting on the war on terror," the British broadcaster said in a statement.

Al-Qaeda sympathisers are blamed for the terror campaign which has killed more than 85 people and injured hundreds in Saudi Arabia since May 2003.

Cumbers was "a freelance journalist and cameraman who has worked throughout the world filming international news stories for the BBC and for news organisations such as Associated Press Television and ITN," the BBC said.

Out of danger

Hospital sources here said Gardner was out of danger after undergoing surgery at Al-Iman hospital. They said he would be moved to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital in the capital.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the attack and expressed his admiration for Gardner.

"I utterly condemn the attack on BBC journalists in Riyadh today," Straw said in a statement.

"I extend my sympathy to the family of the cameraman who was killed and my thoughts are with Frank Gardner, his family, colleagues and friends."

The foreign secretary went on: "Frank Gardner is an outstanding reporter who always seeks to do everything he can to explain the dangerous world we live in to the BBC audience.

Lives are at risk

"I have nothing but admiration for journalists like Mr Gardner who know their lives are at risk as they go about their work."

He added: "Britain's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sherard Cowper-Coles has been at the hospital this evening.

"We will continue to do all we can to support the Saudi authorities in their fight against terrorism."

Gardner, a fluent Arabic speaker with a degree in Arab and Islamic Studies, was reported to be carrying a small copy of the Koran, the Muslim holy book, in his pocket when he and his colleague came under fire near the home of Ibrahim al-Rayyes, a terror suspect killed in a clash with security forces in the area last December.

Rayyes was on a list of 26 most-wanted suspects which has gone down to 18 since it was issued by authorities in December.

Britain has since February advised its nationals against travelling to Saudi Arabia, while the United States has been urging American residents to leave since mid-April.

- AFP