ABU DHABI Ñ The U.S. embassy has quietly warned its nationals to stay off the
streets and check their cars before traveling. Prominent executives working
in Saudi Arabia have been alerted to the prospect that they could be under
surveillance by Islamic insurgents, Gulf sources said.
The warning came in wake of a car bombing in northern Riyad on Thursday.
A bomb attached to the car of a British national exploded and killed him.
A similar warning has been issued by the British embassy. "This provides
a good opportunity to remind you once again of the current advice that
British nationals should maintain sensible security precautions and
vigilance," Middle East Newsline reported.
Western diplomats have warned that increasing tension in the kingdom
could result in additional attacks on Americans and Britons. More than
50,000 Americans and Britons are said to work or are stationed in the
kingdom.
The Briton was identified as Simon John Fens, an employee of the
Saudi-French Bank who lived in the Al Nakheel district, a magnet for senior
U.S. and European executives.
It was the seventh attack aimed at foreigners over the last 18 months.
The bombing came in wake of a Saudi government announcement that 13
suspected Al Qaida agents were arrested in the kingdom.
In October, two people were killed in what Gulf sources said was a
suicide bombing by a Palestinian insurgent in the eastern city of Khobar.
One of those killed was a U.S. citizen.
