DAMMAM, 2 June 2004 — An unspecified number of gunmen escaped after opening fire on police at a checkpoint near the western town of Taif yesterday even as the Kingdom was coming to terms with Saturday’s attacks on the east coast.
There were no reports of casualties but a local hospital source said there were “a few cases” of injuries in the attack on the Hada road leading to Makkah.
According to eyewitness reports, the attackers escaped into the mountains where a massive manhunt got under way while helicopters hovered overhead.
“Security officials cordoned off the Hada mountains in Taif and blocked the roads to Makkah after terror suspects opened fire on police,” witnesses said.
They said police damaged the car of the wanted men, a white 1996 model Ford.
It was not known whether there was any connection between the attackers in Taif and those who conducted a series of attacks in Alkhobar in which 22 people, mostly expatriates, were killed and 25 injured. Security forces are hunting the three terrorists who escaped after the Oasis Compound siege.
Since early Monday security forces have raided several locations where they suspect the fugitive terrorists could be hiding.
Yesterday, police raided a mosque in Alkhobar where the terrorists were said to have stayed and detained its imam.
Official sources say several raids yesterday netted no suspects.
There were several false alarms after reports from residents in Dammam and Alkhobar that they saw the terrorists around the two cities.
Security was tight in the Eastern Province, with record numbers of checkpoints dotting the roads and reinforced security at hotels, residential and business compounds and oil facilities.
— With input from agencies
