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Bomb explosion immediately after terror alert { November 9 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=060000&biid=2003111037698http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=060000&biid=2003111037698
Bomb Explosion Immediately After the U.S. Terrorism Alert Came Out
NOVEMBER 09, 2003 23:04
by Ki-Tae Kwon (kkt@donga.com)
As terrorists attack Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital and killing and wounding about 100 people on November 8, many countries around the globe have been warned about the “terrorism alerts.” The Saudi terrorist attack was the first large-scale attack outside Iraq since October 27, when the Muslim ceremony, Ramadan, was started.
Many countries are preparing to cope with the possible expansion in areas around the world where terrorist organizations operate, including Al Qaeda.
Saudi terrorist attack
Recently, the intelligence units of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have been on emergency alert and have been scrutinizing terrorists, only to fail to prevent the November 8 attack.
The U.S. government warned its citizens in Saudi Arabia on October 25 saying, “It is highly possible that massive terrorist attacks will happen during the Ramadan ceremony.” The Saudi police have been reinforcing the investigation on the terrorists, spotting alleged terrorists on November 3 and 6 and shooting three dead and causing two of them to kill themselves.
Despite these efforts, the intelligence of an imminent terrorist attack was collected, and the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh announced, “We will shut the embassy and consulates in Saudi Arabia temporarily” on November 7.
The bomb exploded at the Al-Muhaya compound in the suburb of Riyadh a day after the announcement.
The death tolls from many networks vary from one another, and Reuters reported that about 30 people were killed and dozens wounded. Al-Muhaya compound, where foreigners, including Americans and high-class Saudi live, is composed of about 200 villas. It is two km away from the U.S. and Britain Embassy and one km away from the homes of Saudi Arabia’s ruling family including Prince Nayef.
Terrorist alert around the globe
The governments of the countries which participated in the anti-terrorism war including the U.S., Britain, Canada, Australia and Spain ordered their foreign embassies to strengthen its guard and to cope with possible terrorist attacks.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on November 7 that Al Qaeda has allegedly been preparing to hijack cargo planes in areas outside the U.S. such as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Sea or to attack core facilities including the nuclear power plants and bridges.
Also on the same day, the U.S. State Department warned that it is possible for U.S. citizens to be kidnapped by East Asian terrorist organizations in the east coast of Sabah in Malaysia and advised them not to travel to those areas. In May, the U.S. government warned everyone of the terrorist alert due to the security concerns of its citizens in Malaysia.
Furthermore, the U.S. State Department warned that the Taliban forces in Afghanistan were trying to kidnap American journalists to exchange with its members under U.S. detention.
On November 7, right after the Saudi terrorist attack, the governments of Britain, Canada and Australia advised their citizens not to travel Saudi Arabia. Britain added the West-friendly nations including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE to the travel-restrained countries.
Before the attack, the intelligence unit of Spain reported the high possibility of a terrorist attack targeting its embassy in Baghdad, therefore it shut its embassy and evacuated most of its officials on November 4. Also recently, Germany deployed its anti-terrorism forces to Iraq in order to protect the embassy officials and the members of reconstruction teams.
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