DAMMAM, 22 January 2003 — The authorities have denied the existence of a serial killer in the Eastern Province, saying that all such reports are nothing but rumors. They also appealed to residents to refrain from engaging in such empty talk.
Hassan Ali Al-Jasser, director general of the Eastern Province governor’s office, said the news circulating among residents, especially via the Internet, were completely false.
Dammam and Alkhobar have been buzzing for the past two days with talk that a man wearing a black abaya and wearing black gloves was on the prowl in the Doha, Sulatnia and Dana districts during the early morning hours.
A member of the managing committee at the International Indian School sent a photocopy of one of the e-mail messages about the rumor to the school, advising the school authorities to inform the students and teachers.
There are more than 9,000 pupils from 4,500 families studying at the Indian school, and once the news was circulated the rumor spread like a wild fire.
There are various versions of the story. In one, the killer was using knife against his victims. In another, he was using a revolver with a silencer.
Some reports said the so-called serial killer was an escapee from the mental asylum in Taif.
