Fingers point to al-Qaeda

2003-11-09 19:03

Riyadh - The suspected al-Qaeda bombers who targeted an affluent, residential neighbourhood near Riyadh's diplomatic quarter might have acted on out-of-date information says the London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (Mira).

"The mentality of mujahedeen and the literature of the al-Qaeda and related parties is very clear. There is no way they would attack Muslims unless they are collateral damage," Mira spokesperson Saad al-Faaqih said.

Despite a nationwide crackdown on suspected militants from the al-Qaeda terror network, and international alerts sounded by the US, a suicide bomber drove a stolen police car into the protected compound, killing at least 13, including four children, and wounding more than 120.

The Saudi government on Sunday blamed al-Qaeda for the attack.

The bombing, which came a day after the United States closed its missions in the kingdom for security review, bore the marks of a carefully crafted plan, very similar to the attacks carried out on May 12, which left 35 dead.

Most of the casualties were Arabs, including four Egyptians and four Lebanese among the dead.

The Saudi Interior ministry listed just four Americans and six Canadians among the wounded, and all were of Arab descent. Three French and one British family also lived on the compound but escaped unhurt, diplomats said.

An adviser to the Saudi government said the al-Muhaya compound used to be occupied by employees of US firm Boeing.

"It's very sad. It was the old Boeing B2 compound but most of the people living there today are primarily Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian," he added.

The militants were making a statement, "that Arabs should not try to emulate the West and live in a fenced compound with swimming pools, where men and women mingle," he said.

- AFP