Several hostages killed in a breaking in operation in al-Khubar
Saudi Arabia, Local, 6/1/2004

News reports quoted a Saudi Arabian security sources as saying that the armed men who are suspected on being members in al-Qaida organization killed several hostages after the Saudi security forces broke into the building where they were holding some 50 foreign hostages in al-Khubar city.

The security source said that " in the last hour and after the Saudi security forces broke into the building, the armed men killed several hostages," giving no explanations on the number of killed hostages or their nationalities. The director of the residential complex which witnessed the kidnapping operation said that three of the hostages were killed including one American and one Britain.

The Philippines ambassador in Saudi Arabia said that three Philippines were killed and other three injured during the detention of the hostages. The ambassador did not explain whether that happened during the release operation or the detention of the hostages.

Earlier in the day, the Saudi security forces announced the end of a Commandos operation launched earlier in the morning. The security sources said that scores of Americans and Europeans were released and two of the kidnappers were killed and others detained.

The Saudi ambassador in Washington prince Bander Bin Sultan announced to the American TV on Saturday evening that the Saudi security forces were able to release seven American hostages, noting that two of them are wounded and the other five are in good health conditions.

However, the chairman of the Saudi Islamic movement for reforms, Saad al-Faqih, said in an interview with al-Jazeera TV office in London that the result of the breaking in operation was surprising as the security forces found nine hostages killed and found no trace for the kidnappers, noting that this result pushed the Saudi authorities to keep silence towards the military operation.

Saudi Commandos forces started a breaking in operation of the residential complex where gunmen held foreign hostages since Saturday evening following a series of attacks against residential complexes in al-Khuber city that resulted in killing 16 persons.

Helicopters were seen landing special fighters counted more than 40 on the roof of the building amid intensive fire.

The Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz threatened to exterminate the executors of al-Khubar attack.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi- Yemeni border demarcation operations finalized   (5/28/2004)
  Saudi Arabia detains three over links to an attack on security forces   (5/26/2004)
  18.8 million foreigners in Saudi Arabia; booby trapped car in Riyadh   (5/25/2004)
  One German killed in a fire shooting in Riyadh   (5/24/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search