Suicide bombers blamed
2003-05-13 08:40
Riyadh - Three major attacks against residential compounds housing Westerners in Riyadh late on Monday were carried out by suicide bombers linked to the al-Qaeda terror network, the Saudi interior minister said in remarks published on Tuesday.
"These explosions were suicide bombings, which are unprecedented in the kingdom," and are linked to the terror cell uncovered in Riyadh last week and said to belong to al-Qaeda, Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz told the daily Okaz.
The minister also said in statements to Al-Watan daily that orders had been issued to raise the security alert throughout the vast kingdom.
The US embassy said at least 44 Americans were injured in the blasts targeting three residential compounds.
Residents and hospital sources said at least three people were killed and more than 50 wounded.
A State Department official in Washington said the United States believes three car bombs were detonated in front of three Riyadh compounds housing American and other Western nationals.
The blasts had "the earmarks of al-Qaeda", US Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday, condemning the explosions which killed at least three people.
Terrorist agenda
"I think it's just part of al-Qaeda and other terrorist organisations' willingness to kill innocent people in order to push forward a criminal agenda, a terrorist agenda that very often has no purpose, has no meaning other than to strike out in rage," Powell said.
Asked who was behind the suicide attacks, Powell said, "I don't know yet, I think the suspects are clear though, it has the earmarks of al-Qaeda."
Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's terror group was responsible in particular for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.
Powell was speaking at a press conference in Amman during a Middle East tour which is also scheduled to take him to Saudi Arabia.
"I condemn the terrorist attacks that took place in Saudi Arabia overnight, I condemn the cowardly individuals who sneaked in the middle of the night to kill innocent civilians," he also said.
"Terror is a global phenomenon which we must all fight."
- AFX