Saudis storm besieged compound

[Chicago Democrat]

Saudis storm besieged compound
Saturday, May 29, 2004 Posted: 7:58 PM EDT (2358 GMT)

(CNN) -- Saudi security forces began storming a residential complex in the city of Khobar Sunday where gunmen were holding as many as 50 hostages, a senior Saudi official said.

The gunmen attacked three locations killing at least 11 people before taking the hostages when they barricaded themselves in the residential complex, according to informed sources and Saudi officials.

(snip)

Between 20 and 50 hostages -- most believed to be non-Arabs -- were being held inside the compound, which was surrounded by Saudi security forces, sources on the scene said. Saudi officials would only say that the attackers had taken "many" hostages.

(snip)

After entering the compounds, the militants opened fire at the buildings and moved to Saad Center, which is part of Oasis compound, where they barricaded themselves.

rest at....

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/29/saudi.shooting/index.html

[NNN0LHI]

1. From the article. Looks like the Chimp really started something now

>>>A previously unknown group calling itself "The Jerusalem Squadron" said a group of "brave fighters" attacked "Zionists and crusaders" who are in Khobar to "steal our oil and resources."

While Saudi officials estimated the number of attackers at four, witnesses on the scene have suggested it was higher, since three locations over a two-mile range were attacked within an hour.<<<

[Chicago Democrat]

2. A race based religious war in the 21st century!!!

Who'd a thunk?

[gottaB]

4. read about them at Arab News

“The heroic Mujahedeen in the Jerusalem Squad were able, by the grace of God, to raid the locations of American companies ... specializing in oil and exploration activities and which are plundering the Muslims’ resources, on Saturday morning,” said a statement signed by the “Al-Qaeda Organization in the Arabian Peninsula.”

Bloodbath in Alkhobar....

Arab News went to press before the storming of the compound. They had some background info worth reading though, a few stories about reactions to the violence.

[NNN0LHI]

6. I am starting to think that the US may be better off "repositioning" our..

...troops from Iraq to SA and see if we can at least hold that oil if that is even possible now. Thing is it ain't our oil. I think we are all going to find out how true that is real soon. Can you envision over half the worlds known oil reserves being controlled by some pissed off mullahs? Nice job George you unificator you.

Don

[Chicago Democrat]

9. No kidding... some Energy Plan.. Hey so I wonder if Iraq is mentioned

in that secret Cheney energy task force.

What a complete disaster. Isn't it wonderful to be in a barrel over Niagra Falls!

[cliss]

22. I tend to agree with you, but

the presence of US forces in what the Arabs perceive as their holy land is really asking for trouble. I recall after the war in Iraq starte, Paul Wolfowitz said, "we had to get our forces out of there because it was a huge Al-Qaida recruiting tool".

And this is also a big reason why we invaded Iraq - so we could position our forces there and keep an eye on SA from a little distance.

In other words, the fact that we were there was a huge threat to the Saudi's iron grip on its oppressed people. The administration wants the Saudi royal family to stay intact -- what do they care about the people? So it's a no-win situation for the US.

Can't you just see the blood draining from their faces as they sit in the board room, right now? They're stunned, speechless at the thought of the world's #1 supply of oil being threatened.

NOT NOW, they cry in panic. The US alone is burning through 9.3 million barrels PER DAY.

I just read on Yahoo News that we might see oil go to $50/bbl because of this. Watch our economy freeze in its tracks, like the dinosaurs did in the Yucatan Peninsula 50 million years ago.

[exploited]

31. Actually, the US burns 20 MILLION barrels PER DAY

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/usa.html
The United States consumed an average of about 20.0 MMBD of oil in 2003, up from 19.8 MMBD in 2002. Of this, 8.9 MMBD (or 45% of the total) was motor gasoline, 4.8 MMBD (24%) "other oils" 3.9 MMBD (20%) distillate fuel oil, 1.6 MMBD (8%) jet fuel, and 0.77 million bbl/d (4%) residual fuel oil. Total 2004 petroleum demand is projected to grow by 420,000 barrels per day, or 2.1%, to an average 20.4 million barrels per day.


That's about 20 (former) Chevron Condaleezza Rice tankers worth.



PER DAY

@ $41/barrel = $820 million per day UP in smoke. OMG!
45% of it goes to fuel cars!

Why don't we drive electric cars yet? /rhetorical question :-/

[cal04]

20. Found this on Jihad Unspun

This morning, Saturday 10 Rabi Al-Akhir 1425, the Mujahideen, the heroes of Al-Quds Sar'ya managed, with the power of Allah, to break into the area of Americans companies called Al-Khobar Petroleum Center that that belongs to Haliburton, the American occupying company which consists of some specialized companies in the fields of oil and mining construction that are stealing Muslims' resources. As of now, they managed to kill and hurt some of our crusader enemies.

[Zhade]

27. This is one of the reasons why "they hate our freedom".

They "hate our freedom" to support tyrannical regimes that oppress their people in return for all that tasty crude goodness.

So, when Arab and Muslim peoples claim America terrorizes and steals from them, maybe we should pay attention instead of denying our country's involvement. That's the first step toward actually reducing terrorism.

Don't want to be terrorized? Don't cause others to suffer to the point of desperation for your selfish needs. It's really not that complicated an idea.

[Chicago Democrat]

3. Al Jazeera's report...

(Snip)

A statement purportedly from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network posted on Islamist Web sites claimed responsibility for the attacks. The group blamed for the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States has vowed to destabilize the U.S.-allied monarchy and the world's leading oil exporter.

(snip)

The attack, apparently targeting Saudi Arabia's vast oil industry, came two days after top al Qaeda leader in Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz al-Muqrin issued a battle plan for an urban guerrilla war in the kingdom, specifying steps militants need to take to succeed in a campaign to topple the Saudi royal family.

It was the third attack against foreigners in less than a month in the birthplace of Islam and home to some of its most important sites.

Militants first opened fire at the Al-Khobar Petroleum Center building, believed to house offices of major Western oil companies, before storming into three compounds housing oil-services offices and residential homes of employees working there, the sources said.

rest at....

http://www.aljazeerah.info/News%20archives/2004%20News%20archives/May/29%20n/Saudi%20Militants%20Kill%20Five%20Foreigners,%20Take%20Hostages,%20in%20Khobar%20Oil%20Industry%20Center.htm

[Aidoneus]

11. completely different "al-Jazeera"

but interesting report anyway, thanks.

[jmcgowanjm]

13. Al-Jazeera satellite TV tomb of the Imam 'Ali shelled by US

Al-Jazeera satellite TV reported al-Khaz'ali as saying that
they have evidence to prove that the shell that landed Tuesday
on the tomb of the Imam 'Ali in the city was American.
Al-Khaz'ali called on experts and specialists to examine the
area and to see for themselves.

You can bet the Arab world, including
Saudis, have heard this.

[burrowowl]

15. Did you look at some other stories

The Kurds in Turkey are calling off the cease-fire
Sharon's gov may collapse
etc.
Things seem to be getting warm
In other news: y carrier groups deplying for 'exercises'

[keithyboy]

16. This is what happens when the 'adults' are in charge.

Bring back the Clinton adolescents.

[Zhade]

28. Hell, things are so bad I'd take the Nixon Toddlers over these guys!

THAT'S how screwed we are.

[Chicago Democrat]

5. New York Times describes battle at Oasis Compound

(snip)
The gunmen took some hostages at the Oasis residential compound in Khobar, a luxury complex of 220 to 250 villas and apartments that is home to many senior Western company executives, including those from Shell, Honeywell and General Electric. About 15 hours after the attack began, the reports varied on the number of people who might still be held. Some said the gunmen were holding 15 people hostage, but other reports, quoting a manager at the Oasis, said they were holding as many as 50.

The day was filled with dramatic efforts to capture the gunmen, who apparently scaled an unused, unguarded gate to gain entrance to the Oasis compound shortly after dawn. They then went door to door pulling residents out of their homes, said two Americans who live in Khobar and were contacted by telephone.

One American executive living in the compound, Owen W. Reed, described how his wife, Diane, sought protection in a back room of their house after hearing gunfire. When the gunshots seemed to be hammering through the front door, she ran out through the back garden. She fled down the street toward a guard post near their house, but she was hit in the leg by gunfire just as she reached it. She was pulled out of the line of fire by a security guard. Later in the evening, Mr. Reed said his wife was in stable condition after undergoing surgery in a local hospital.

Another resident, who was being evacuated by Saudi security forces in an armored vehicle, said he saw a man he believed was a Swiss cook at the compound lying on the ground surrounded by blood and bodies being carried out of a house where a French couple had lived.

rest at...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/30/international/middleeast/30SAUD.html?hp

[maddezmom]

8. unfortunately this shouldn't come as a surprise

the earlier shootings...DU link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=523028

Warnings:

DUBAI (Reuters) - A top al Qaeda leader in Saudi Arabia said Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s group was helping Muslim militants fighting to expel U.S. forces from Iraq (news - web sites), according to a statement posted on Islamist Web sites on Friday.



It also claimed responsibility for a shooting this month in Saudi Arabia that killed five Westerners and vowed more deadly attacks in the world's largest oil exporter and other Muslim states.


"In our jihad in the Arabian peninsula, we are serving the Iraqi cause and helping the mujahideen there who we are in constant contact with and are supporting," said the statement attributed to Abdulaziz al-Muqrin.


"We seek to confuse the enemy, keep it occupied in its rear bases and foil its future plans along with its Arab allies and despots."


It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the statement, which said Muslim militants had laid low in Kurdistan for a long time and "could not achieve what they are achieving now."

~snip~
more:http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&ncid=586&e=11&u=/n...



DUBAI, May 27 (Reuters) - A top al Qaeda leader in Saudi Arabia called on Thursday for an urban guerrilla war in the kingdom, hit by a recent spate of militant attacks on Western and security targets.

The Arabic-language statement, posted on several Islamist Web sites and purportedly from Abdulaziz al-Muqrin, gave a detailed list of steps militants should take to succeed in their violent campaign against the Saudi royal family.

"Working in cities needs small groups comprising no more than four people," the statement said. "The activists must be residents of this city to avoid spies and suspicious eyes."

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the statement but Islamist sites have in the past carried similar messages from Muqrin.

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27126772.htm



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And ongoing warnings from the State Dept for Americans to leave Saudi.... :)

[Chicago Democrat]

7. Samia Nakhoul IN Khobar, reporting for Scotsman.com

(Snip)

Security forces said the militants, who had freed all Muslims but still held around 50 hostages, mainly Westerners, including Americans, Italians and those Arabs who were Christians, were surrounded on the sixth floor of a high-rise building.

However, Saudi police said last night that the terrorists were using the hostages as human shields and that officials were trying to negotiate.

"Security forces are worried about storming because the gunmen have grenades," one policeman said.

"Ambulances have been going in and out of the compound all day and we have been hearing lots of gunfire," said witness Mohammed Sweidan.

rest...

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=614672004

[gp]

10. witness accounts from the bbc website

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3760475.stm

<snip>

Ali, another Khobar resident who was driving to work, saw police in a car shooting at gunmen in another vehicle.

"They both exchanged heavy firing and then (I saw the gunmen) throw a bag containing a man's body and run away," he wrote.

"I was shocked seeing firing for the first time in my life. This is totally devastating for me."

Ali H, from London, received a call from his father, who lives on the compound.

"The gunmen went into my father's neighbour's flat, a Sudanese guy, and asked him where the Americans were. He didn't know and they left him unharmed," Ali said.

"They went into the company offices, in the compound, and fired around randomly, then escaped."

</snip>

[jmcgowanjm]

12. OK, 3 sites attacked, then consolidation in the Oasis.

A plan.

If we wake up tomorrow and this is still going
on, then sky's the limit on the World Oil Market.

Fire up a Saudi pipeline and Peakoil will be here.

From May 3:

Bjorn Edlund, a spokesman for ABB Lummus, said: "Our
people on the ground have had meetings with the
employees who were there and asked them if they would
agree to stay if we beefed up security, took it over ourselves,
or whether they would prefer to
leave.
"Not surprisingly, everybody wanted to go
home."

Analysts said that oil prices are already unstable
after
last week's raid on an Iraqi oil export terminal. "Oil
traders
have vivid imaginations and they will read the worst
possible
into this," said Peter Gignoux, senior oil adviser
at
New York-based GDP Associates. "There has been
cause
for alarm after the attacks in Saudi Arabia and
Iraq."-

http://www.pmjobs.net/NewsView.asp?id=1133

[Chicago Democrat]

14. Can you say "Limit Up"

:(

[puerco-bellies]

17. Puerco-Bellies can! eom

[NNN0LHI]

18. CNN is reporting that the first time the police rushed the place they...

...were repelled. They are now dropping police from a helicopter onto the roof of a compound.

Don

[maddezmom]

19. thanks for the clarification

missed it the first time around...now CNNI is recapping.

[maddezmom]

21. CNNI reporting live now n/t

[dArKeR]

23. Hostages reportedly freed in Saudi Arabia - MSGOP

KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia - Suspected Islamic militants sprayed gunfire inside two office compounds in the heart of the Saudi oil region Saturday, killing at least 10 people -- including an American -- and then holding dozens of hostages in a day-long standoff with police.


advertisement
The hostages -- mostly Americans and Europeans -- were released early Sunday and a gunmen believed to be the lead Islamic militant holding them was arrested, a Saudi security official said, adding that two other gunmen were "in the process of being arrested."

It was unclear whether they had surrendered or if police had raided the six-story building where they were holed up in the city of Khobar. Commandos were seen leaping onto the rooftop from a helicopter earlier in the morning, and gunfire had been heard.

The Saudi security official would not comment on the whereabouts or conditions of the hostages, saying only: "It has ended. One has been arrested and two are in the process of being arrested -- they are surrounded."

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5089558/


----------------------

Saudi Attack Seems Al-Qaeda-Like - CBS

Suspected Islamic militants wearing military-style uniforms sprayed gunfire inside two office compounds in the heart of the Saudi oil production region Saturday, killing at least 10 people - including an American - before taking dozens of hostages at a luxury expatriate resort.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/05/29/terror/main620280.shtml

CBS, what does a Al-Qaeda attack look like? When gunmen go in and kill a dozen people then take 50 more hostage, including Americans, and then let everyone go and then they sit there and wait to be arrested?

[gristy]

24. How did 3 gunmen "escape"??

I mean, how does this happen? Did the Saudis not completely surround the compound before attacking?

22 killed in Saudi attack
Top al Qaeda figure purportedly claims responsibility

(CNN) -- Twenty-two people were killed Saturday when gunmen stormed a compound housing oil workers, the Saudi Interior Ministry said Sunday.

A man believed by authorities to be the top al Qaeda figure in Saudi Arabia later purportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a statement read on Saudi state-run TV, the Interior Ministry said one of the four attackers was captured, but the others escaped despite a strong security presence around the residential complex where they had holed up with hostages.

A manhunt was under way for the three, one of whom was wounded by security forces, the statement said.

more: http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/30/saudi.shooting/index.html

[dArKeR]

25. The scary part is; Are average people on the Internet the only ones asking

obvious questions? I honestly can't believe Corporate mainstream news sources publish stories which show their journalists are incompetent. In college, from Speech class to Economic/Business Law case studies, the worst kid in class did a better job analyzing simple cases than our PHD Corporate jouralist publish reports on world events today.

[Zhade]

29. Perhaps they had sympathizers?

It happens in Pakistan, couldn't imagine aQ doesn't have fans in SA!

[Zhade]

26. "according to informed sources" - is this CNN's new trick?

So as long as CNN claims an unknown-to-us source is "informed", we should believe that CNN isn't lying to us?

Or is 'informed source' standard journalist terminology?

[daleo]

30. According to the BBC, three gunmen escaped

"One militant was captured, but three others escaped despite the massive presence of security forces..."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3762677.stm

This seems like a pretty incredible escape. It is hard to believe that it could happen without somebody looking the other way. Perhaps we should add a new acronym to the "conspiracy vocabulary":

LTEOP - "Let them escape on purpose".

[Chicago Democrat]

32. That is amazing...

4 or 5 guys.... create massive havoc.. and 3 or 4 escape!!!

Unreal>>

Unfucking real