KUWAIT CITY, 28 January 2005 — The US Embassy in Kuwait warned yesterday of the danger of more clashes between security forces and militants in the Gulf state, saying residential complexes for Westerners could be targeted.
“While there have been no new incidents since Jan. 15, we wish to advise American citizens that the possibility of further violent clashes between security officials and militants exists as police continue attempts to locate and arrest individuals connected to the earlier shootings,” the embassy said.
Two Kuwaiti security officers were killed and at least four wounded in two gunfights with suspected militants on Jan. 10 and 15. Two suspects were also killed in the clashes.
The US Embassy said the group behind the shootings “conducted surveillance of at least one facility known to house a large number of Western civilians, specifically the Alia Ghaliya complex, also known as Fintas Towers.
“Heightened security awareness should be exercised in all residential complexes, as terrorists have specifically targeted a variety of Western housing facilities in the past,” the embassy said. Fintas Towers are twin high-rise residential buildings overlooking the sea in Fintas district, some 25 km south of Kuwait City, mainly occupied by Western expatriates working in the oil industry.
Kuwaiti security forces have arrested about 15 suspected militants, according to Interior Minister Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, but an unspecified number, including the group’s spiritual leader, are still at large.
“We know that they have not left the country and we know we will arrest them soon,” a Kuwaiti security official told AFP yesterday.
Sheikh Nawaf acknowledged last week that the militants belonged to an “organized group,” but the country’s National Guard chief, Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, said some of the group were members of Al-Qaeda.
The authorities say they have seized large quantities of arms, ammunition and explosives since the clashes.
Up to 13 of the suspects were referred to the public prosecution on Tuesday and more were expected to be sent later. Local media said at least one of those referred was a woman.
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