RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - One American was injured and another was reported missing in a suicide attack on a housing compound in the Saudi capital Riyadh Sunday, a U.S. diplomat said. “One American registered with us was wounded and hospitalized. We have one unaccounted for,” the diplomat told Reuters. He did not say if the Americans were of dual nationality.
A Western diplomat said the bombers killed up to 30 people and wounded up to 100 in the devastating attack, which occurred a day after the United States warned of terrorist raids and shut its missions in Saudi Arabia.
A Saudi security official blamed Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda for the attack on the Muhaya residential compound housing foreigners in west Riyadh. Saudi officials said however virtually all the residents at the bombed compound were Arabs. One resident said most were Lebanese, Egyptians and Syrians.
The attack occurred nearly six months after triple suicide bombings at Riyadh housing compounds on May 12 killed 35 people, including nine Americans.
Saudi Arabia blamed those bombings on al Qaeda. A purported bin Laden audio tape released last month promised suicide attacks inside and outside the United States. Supporters of bin Laden have threatened both Saudi rulers and Western expatriates who hold key jobs in the kingdom, the world’s biggest oil exporter.
Saudi Arabia, birthplace of Islam, is battling a surge in Islamist violence believed to be linked to al Qaeda. Friday, the United States issued its second security warning on Saudi Arabia in almost as many weeks, saying terrorists were planning attacks in the kingdom. U.S. missions were shut in the kingdom Saturday for a security review. The warnings were issued before and during Islam’s holiest month of Ramadan.