RIYADH, 22 June — Western residents in the Kingdom said yesterday that the latest killing of a Briton had left them anxious, but a diplomat said there was no sign of an exodus.
Saudi authorities began an investigation into the car bomb that killed British banker Simon John Venesse in Riyadh on Thursday.
The blast that ripped through Venesse’s Land Rover outside his house in the posh Al-Nakheel district of Riyadh recalled a string of bombings in 2000-1, which officials say were linked to alcohol smuggling.
Venesse worked at AlBank AlSaudi AlFransi and was in his early 30s with a two-year-old son. He had resigned and was in his last 10 days on the job.
"I am concerned, if this can happen to someone in broad daylight why should I believe it won’t happen to me?" one Riyadh-based French executive said.
In London, Saudi Ambassador Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi dismissed British press reports that the car bomb attack was the work of a terrorist cell within the Kingdom as baseless media speculation.
"This is mere speculation," Al-Gosaibi told reporters yesterday. "Investigations into the incident have already started. All facts will be announced soon after the completion of the probe," he added.
"If it was established that this malicious attack was linked to a terrorist organization we’ll be the first to announce it," the ambassador said.
Westerners working in the Kingdom were already on edge after Saudi authorities said last week they had arrested seven members of Al-Qaeda network on suspicion of planning "terrorist" attacks on vital targets in the country.
"There is a level of concern, but people are not queuing up at the airport," said a Western diplomat in Riyadh.
A Saudi security source said on Thursday the latest killing might also be linked to score settling in the illicit alcohol trade, but friends of Veness deny he was involved.
Another security source told Al-Watan daily that it was difficult at this stage to point fingers at anyone. However, he did not rule out the possibility of involvement by foreigners or Al-Qaeda operatives.
"There’s no point speculating about the motives (of the attack) or its perpetrators until investigations have been completed," Deputy Governor of Riyadh Prince Sattam told Arab News.
"We will release the results of the inquiry once it is concluded," he said.
Ibrahim Al-Towk, chairman of AlBank AlSaudi AlFransi, said Venesse, who joined the bank in April 1997, was not known to have committed any breaches of law and it was unlikely that he had been involved in illicit alcohol trade.
"He was a gentleman who carried out his duties perfectly well," Al-Towk said, and added that he had a smooth relationship with all his colleagues.
An official at the British Embassy in Riyadh said a device attached to the car went off and the petrol tank exploded. The official, who requested anonymity, said it was too early to draw conclusions about the motives of the blast, but added there was no evidence to suggest it was related to a series of bombings in the Kingdom involving Westerners and linked to alcohol smuggling that began in November 2000.
Seven Westerners, including five Britons, are awaiting trial in Saudi Arabia for some of the 2000 and 2001 bomb attacks which the Interior Ministry says were linked to score settling between people involved in the illicit alcohol-smuggling and trade.
Security measures for British nationals have been beefed up in the wake of the blast. The British Embassy, which advised its 30,000 nationals to remain vigilant after last week’s Al-Qaeda arrests, told them on Thursday to ensure the security of their vehicles.
Wilfred Paes, an Australian national residing in a compound along with British expatriates, said CCTV units have been installed in their parking area. All visitors to the compound are also being screened for security checks.
Speaking on behalf of BAE Systems, Waleed Abu Khaled, communications and PR manager, said they are coordinating closely with officials from the Ministry of Interior and the British Embassy. "All the warden notices sent out by the British Embassy are displayed on the notice board inside our premises as well as at prominent places in our headquarters."
Waleed said BAE Systems has a workforce of 5,500 in Saudi Arabia, of which around 2,800 are Britons. Arrangements are in place to ensure that they work amid tight security conditions both in the office and in compounds, where they reside.
An informed source told Arab News that British Airways crew checking in at the local Mariott Hotel are provided extra security, including thorough search of their baggage. The vehicle dropping them at the airport is also checked thoroughly.
