DAMMAM, 1 June 2004 — The entire Eastern Province is on red alert and security has been intensified around the cities of Dammam, Alkhobar, Dhahran, Jubail, Ahsa and Qatif.

Important installations, business premises and factories are being heavily guarded and extra-strength police battalions are patrolling the areas.

Police Chief Abdul Aziz Baadi has said his force is determined to save citizens, residents and their property as well as all important installations and urged everyone to cooperate. All the exit and entry points to the cities of Dammam and Alkhobar are heavily policed and each vehicle passing through is thoroughly checked.

Security around housing compounds as well as shopping malls and hotels have also been intensified.

At Dammam Industrial Area I and II, the authorities have posted police patrols at each entry point. In addition several police cars are constantly patrolling industrial areas. Security has asked production facilities with Western staff to close their main gates and employees to remain indoors during working hours.

The King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia with Bahrain is seeing some of the heaviest security arrangements. In addition to strong police presence at the bridge and nearby, coast guards are constantly patrolling the Gulf waters.

Saudi Aramco is also not taking any chances and its entry and exit points are heavily guarded and security around all important installations has been beefed up. According to reports, for a brief period in the afternoon, the gates of Aramco in Ras Tanura were closed.

Heavy security around the city has affected traffic movement, and in some locations in Alkhobar like Dhahran Road and King Abdul Aziz Street there have been reports of long traffic jams. However, residents are not complaining saying that this is being done for their own security.

Shops in Alkhobar had expected brisk sales just after payday, but due to the attacks business has been slow. In Dammam, however, business was as usual.

All the schools in the region remained open except those managed by the International Schools Group, which are closed “until further notice.”