RIYADH, 21 May — Criminal and personal motives were behind a May 2 letter-bomb attack on a US doctor working in Alkhobar, Al-Hayat Arabic newspaper reported quoting sources close to the investigation.
“Criminal reasons were behind the attack. The victim had personal relations with certain individuals ... ,” the paper quoted the source as saying, but did not elaborate on the type of relationship.
Gary Hatch has had his left arm amputated and lost the use of an eye following the attack which took place at his physiotherapy clinic in Alkhobar. He remains in stable condition in hospital, Al-Hayat said.
It added however that a link was not being ruled out with a series of blasts in Saudi Arabia late last year that killed one Briton and wounded four other Westerners.
Those attacks have been tied to a multimillion-dollar alcohol smuggling business.
Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad said earlier this month that Saudi authorities had information that should lead to the arrest of those behind the attack on the American doctor. He said it was personal vengeance and there were no political motives behind the blasts in Riyadh and Alkhobar in the past months.
