DAMMAM, 1 June 2003 — Armed roadblocks on the outskirts of all the major cities, coupled with beefed-up security at housing compounds and the reported arrests of dozens of suspected Al-Qaeda operatives and their sympathizers, has eased tension among Western expatriates in the Eastern Province.
After the Riyadh explosion on May 12, Western expatriates mostly decided to stay at home after their work day had finished.
Western embassies had issued advisories to their nationals not to move around in the city if it was not absolutely necessary.” The arrest of a gunman outside the US Consulate in Dhahran added to fears. As a result, three schools run and managed by International Schools Group were closed.
While these incidents were making the front pages of the local press, Western expatriates were not seen at shopping centers, beaches, and amusement parks or local restaurants.
“It was more like a house arrest and children were getting restless,” a British expatriate resident at the prestigious Arabian Village told Arab News.
However, an incident-free fortnight and extremely tight security, as well as security checkpoints, seem to have reassured expatriates and their confidence is returning. Although their numbers are fewer, they can now once again be seen at big supermarkets and popular restaurants. Many Americans and British nationals have sent their families back home and the dependents of several diplomats have also left the country, but those who decided to stay back say that they could not remain indoors forever.
Many Western as well as Asian expats say that terrorism is now a global phenomenon and the risk of terrorism is greater in the United States and other developed countries than in the Gulf and the Middle East.
“One or two such incidents could not bring life to standstill. Moreover, Saudis and other expats are as vulnerable to terrorism as we are — so why are they following a normal routine while we are hunkered down?” asked an American working for Saudi Aramco.
