Hostages died trying to escape
2004-05-30 12:43
Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia - Elite Saudi security forces on Sunday rescued 25 hostages held by four suspected al-Qaeda extremists but nine others were murdered during a violent overnight standoff with police, a survivor said.
Jordanian computer engineer Nijar Hijazin said he was among the hostages who were pulled from the ceiling of the residential compound after helicopter-borne troops raided the building to end the 24-hour siege.
He said seven Asians, a Swede and an Italian had their throats slit during the night, after the extremist kidnappers earlier killed at least 10 people including foreigners in an armed rampage through this Saudi oil city.
"The nine had their throats cut by the kidnappers when they tried to escape at night by the stairs," said Hijazin, who added that he was pulled from the roof of the compound after the Saudi troops attacked around dawn.
The Saudi ambassador in Washington said seven US hostages had been rescued. "Two are wounded and five are all right," Prince Bandar bin Sultan told Fox television.
The Swedish foreign ministry said it had information from Saudi officials that a Swede might be among the fatalities, while Philippine ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla told DZBB radio in Manila that three Filipinos were reported killed and three wounded.
Eight hostages were set free on Saturday night and about 60 residents had been evacuated from the sprawling walled compound in armored vehicles and ambulances.
Shooting was heard inside the apartments after helicopters landed some 40 troops on the roof amid loud gunfire from automatic weapons just before 05:30. Shots also rang out throughout the night.
Security forces killed two hostages-takers and captured the other two during the rescue, an employee at The Oasis housing compound told AFP, in the absence of any official toll from the authorities.
"Two were killed and two captured," said the man who asked not to be identified. This information could not be immediately verified.
Dragged behind car
Al-Arabiya television reported the leader of the militants had been captured, although there was no official confirmation.
A statement purported to be from Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the Al-Khobar carnage, although its authenticity could not be confirmed.
The assailants initially attacked the building of the Arab Petroleum Investment Corp (Apicorp) and a "Petroleum Center" where oil firms have offices on Saturday.
An American was among the estimated 10 dead, prompting the US embassy to renew a call it made in mid-April for US citizens to leave Saudi Arabia.
Accounts by various sources on the ground and diplomats suggested the death toll from the initial attack was higher than 10.
The British government confirmed that one Briton, Michael Hamilton, had been killed in Saturday's violence. London newspapers reported that his body was dragged for over a kilometre mile behind a car.
London also warned that terrorists might be in the final stages of planning further attacks in Saudi Arabia.
"We continue to believe that terrorists remain determined to carry out further attacks in Saudi Arabia, and that these may be in the final stages of preparation," the Foreign Office said, advising against all but essential travel to the kingdom.