DUBAI, 2 November 2004 — Hotels in the Qatari capital Doha have tightened security, following reports of a possible terrorist attack aimed at Americans, Qatari newspapers reported yesterday.
The US Embassy advised Americans to stay away from major hotels in Doha this week because it had “information about a possible attack during a relatively specific timeframe”.
Meanwhile, the British Embassy cautioned UK nationals, referring to “unsubstantiated reports circulating in Qatar of a threat of an attack against a hotel used by US citizens in Qatar”.
In a message posted on its official website, the embassy drew the attention of British citizens to the continuing threat by terrorists to Western interests in the Gulf states and the Arabian Peninsula.
A spokesman for the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Doha was quoted in the Qatari press as saying the hotel had tightened security and had a very good security system in place and very well trained security staff.
The new measures include installation of metal detectors to monitor visitors and new checkpoints to examine “suspicious” vehicles entering the hotel.
Among other measures, the hotel also advises guests to be more cautious, the spokesman added.
Doha Sheraton has also erected new barricades preventing vehicles from approaching the building “too closely”. The Inter-Continental, in addition to usual security measures, is placing more emphasis on unsolicited packages and monitors all hotel visitors more closely, a hotel official said.
The Qatari press said at least one of the scheduled events in a major city hotel has been cancelled or postponed, as a result of the cautionary report.
The US Embassy has advised Americans to “continue to avoid” major hotels in Doha this week, adding that Qatari security services were aware of the threat and were taking measures in response.
Qatar is host to the Central Command of the US forces. In addition, there are an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 American citizens living in Qatar, most of them working in the oil and gas industry.
