RIYADH/DAMMAM, 22 February 2003 — Expatriates interviewed by Arab News yesterday expressed sadness at the unnecessary loss of innocent life on Thursday, when Briton Robert Dent was gunned down in Riyadh.

Dent, who worked as a commercial officer at BAE, was shot dead at a traffic light by a Yemen-born Saudi, Saud ibn Ali ibn Nasser.

When contacted in England by Arab News, Dent’s father said: “Robert was a wonderful loving husband to Lisa. He adored his children Oliver and Grace. We will all miss him so much. All the family is devastated as Robert was such a nice and kind lad.”

After Dent’s killing the British Embassy immediately upgraded its warning to the 30,000 Britons in the Kingdom, and yesterday the Foreign Office told Britons here to consider getting out.

The embassy advised Britons to vary their daily routine, including route and times, and to travel and shop in groups of two or more.

It also asked them to be vigilant at all times and when driving to “be aware of any vehicle that might be following you.”

Okaz daily said yesterday that Dent’s alleged assailant, who acquired Saudi nationality 10 years ago, is a member of the Al-Harthi tribe to which Al-Qaeda suspect Ali Qaed Al-Harthi also belonged.

Ali Qaed, who Yemen says was responsible for several terror attacks in that country, was killed on Nov. 3 by a US missile attack on a car traveling in eastern Yemen.

The Interior Ministry clarified yesterday that the alleged gunman Saud ibn Ali ibn Nasser worked for Baashen Establishment, and not for Toyota as was initially reported.

Thursday’s shooting was the second targeting a BAE employee in Saudi Arabia in as many weeks. A spokesman for BAE Systems in Riyadh said due to heightened tensions, foreign employees had been asked to increase vigilance.

Katarina Whittaker, 27, told Arab News: “I’m surprised at the killing. I have been living in the Kingdom for 17 years. This incident does not scare me and does not make me want to leave Saudi Arabia. I might try to blend in more, but it’s not like I’m afraid for my life.”

Robert Edward Taylor, an environmental specialist, agreed. “I still feel safe. I won’t live in fear. This is the act of an individual and doesn’t represent or reflect on Saudis, Arabs or Muslims as a whole,” Taylor said.

Steve Jones, a 12-year resident of Saudi Arabia and a senior field engineer subcontracted by British Aerospace, said: “This latest shooting does not surprise me since no arrest was made in the attempted shooting of another BAE employee just two weeks ago. Of course, this makes my wife and I rethink how obvious we are. I’m not going to wear the BAE uniform any longer. We are not taking any other precautions as a result of this shooting. We have been taking precautions since Sept. 11, such as looking underneath our car and avoiding isolated areas.”

Hussein Shobokshi, a Saudi political commentator, said: “I think there are people who are trying to take advantage of the growing rift between Saudi Arabia and the US and Britain. And they have an agenda. There are other issues. Most importantly, I don’t think that the US understands the possible consequences of a war with Iraq. These murders are an example of the destabilization that could happen.”

Thursday’s killing was deplored by all segments of society in the Eastern Province, but did not shake the confidence of expatriates.

Security was, however, tightened at housing compounds where most Europeans and Americans live.

“It is a deplorable and cowardly act and gives a bad name to typical Saudi hospitality,” said Richard Shehan, an American consultant in a multinational group in Dammam. But he said that he and his family were confident of their security in the country.

Saud Al-Raees, a local journalist with Al-Hayat Arabic daily, condemned the killing and sent his condolences to the bereaved family.

“Such incidents should never be generalized, they should be considered an act of insanity,” he said.

Daniel Christopher, an executive in a transport company, said no expatriate should feel threatened by such incidents. Many countries around the globe witness much worse incidents of violence, he said.

David Brown, a British national working for Saudi Aramco, condemned the killing of his compatriot but added that he was not worried about his own security.

— Additional reporting by Mohammed Alkhereiji in Riyadh