JEDDAH, 7 December 2004 — It was business as usual toward the evening yesterday, a few hours after the three-hour siege at the US Consulate here. Normality returned to traffic along Palestine and Andalus roads and also the flow of visitors to the residences, offices, commercial centers and hospitals around the consulate.

Police intensified vigil on all roads leading to the consulate, as also around many major consulates, Western in particular.

A late evening tour indicated that police stationed themselves at all traffic lights and increased the checking of vehicles on some of the roads and lanes. “Yes, we are taking every precaution and leaving nothing to chances,” a policeman near Dr. Fakeeh Hospital told Arab News.

The flow of visitors to Dr. Fakeeh Hospital, which had been restricted by police after the shootout at the consulate, was also normal within hours of the end of the siege.

“There is, however, fewer number of visitors than we usually have around this time of the evening,” an expat doctor told Arab News. “It seems people themselves are avoiding coming here after all that has happened,” he said requesting anonymity.

During and after the three-hour siege, when a gun battle between gunmen and security guards in and around the consulate, all roads leading toward the consulate were blocked, as police cordoned off the area.

Patients and visitors heading to Dr. Fakeeh Hospital were at a disadvantage until evening when the situation was brought under control. “We had almost reached the hospital, but were advised by security guards to go to some other hospital as there was heavy security in the vicinity,” a Saudi trader, Ahmed Al-Sharbini, told Arab News. He said his wife had a serious problem and needed urgent medical attention.

Many passersby on Palestine road here were stunned and shocked as they heard gunshots being fired at the US Consulate complex in the forenoon.

“I could not believe that such a big attack could be launched by a handful of gunmen in the consulate that was strongly fortified with security forces guarding it all around round-the-clock,” Mustafa Marwan, a middle-aged Saudi visitor to Dr. Fakeeh Hospital said.

The storming of the consulate sent shockwaves across the expat community, Westerners in particular. “However, it’s remarkable that the security forces brought the situation under control, although after a couple of hours of the incident,” John Morgan, a teacher at an English teaching institute, said.

“How could this happen?” asked another Western expat. The consulate was very heavily protected. There are concrete blocks all around the complex to stop car bombs. There are surveillance cameras installed and security guards present all around like a fortress.”

Russian Ambassador Andrei Baklanov said that Russian and Saudi officials were in close cooperation to protect Russian citizens from attacks. The US consulate is located on the same street as the Russian consulate.

No Russian citizens were harmed in the attack, however the Russian Consulate General has taken “all the necessary precautions” in increasing the security of the building, a local consulate staff said.

After the gunmen attacked the consulate complex and opened fire, a fire broke out. “Members of the National Guard entered the consulate premises and exchanged fire with the gunmen,” an Asian witness said.

Soon flames could be seen coming from the complex and two thick plumes of smoke rose into the sky. Police around the complex took cover behind their vehicles and helicopters were seen flying over the area.

As word spread, people remained glued to the TV sets to know the latest on the attack. Witnesses said they heard about a car bomb being exploded at the entrance and hostages being taken in the compound, but there was no official confirmation.

An exhibition and conference on water management and irrigation area, scheduled at the French Consulate General today, has been postponed. Promosalons announced the postponement without attributing any reasons. It was to be presented by Nabiha Dakkak, manager of Promosalons Arabian Gulf this afternoon.