Riyadh: One German killed in a car explosion

Explosions which target westerner residents in Saudi Arabia have renewed. An explosive went off on Sunday in a car owned by a German and this resulted in the death of one persons in an attack whose intention was not known. Similar attacks took place during the two past years and they were linked by the Saudi security authorities to fighting a Mafia in the alcoholic drinks trade.

The Saudi news agency said that one persons was killed in Riyadh in a car explosion owned by a German.

The Saudi news agency quoted an official source at the ministry of the interior saying that the "explosion took place in a Mercury Ford at Abdul Hameed al-Katib street in al-Suleimaneyh quarters in Riyadh." The source added "the car is owned by a person of German nationality." The source continued that the driver of the car was killed in the incident, who was alone, adding that the explosion is suspected to be a result of an explosive.

Spokesman for the German embassy in Riyadh confirmed the explosion but gave no more details.

The police closed the roads around the explosion site, 100 meters form the site which witnessed a similar explosion in October 2000 in which were killed one British and his wife in their car explosion which was also booby trapped.