ALKHOBAR, 2 May 2004 — The Yanbu terrorist attacks affected businesses across the Kingdom. While some companies were directly damaged, others had to cope with tight security, area closures and misinformation.
As highest security measures were put in place, companies in the heavy industry areas of Yanbu Al-Sinaiyah were locked down, with no one going in or out. First to feel the heat were the delivery services attempting to bring packages to the petrochemical plants. United Parcel Service (UPS) stated that their deliverymen were already in the Industrial City when the attack began. Their drivers quickly evacuated the heavy industrial section of the city as it was being sealed off by the police.
Large industrial operators quickly released statements to let the world know that their plants were intact and their staff safe.
On behalf of one partner in the petrochemical giant Yanpet, ExxonMobil spokesman Marcu L. Tripp from Riyadh said: “We are aware that there has been a security incident in Yanbu, where ExxonMobil participates in a number of joint ventures. ExxonMobil employees and dependents are all accounted for and safe. We continue to monitor the situation.”
From Dhahran, a Saudi Aramco official said: “No Saudi Aramco facilities or personnel were affected by the tragic attacks, and normal operations are continuing at all of the company’s installations. The safety and security of its facilities — and the employees and dependents who live and work in them — are Saudi Aramco’s top priority, and the company maintains comprehensive security at all times.”
A team from ABB Saudi Arabia in Jeddah led by Country Manager Mahmoud Shaban is on the scene in Yanbu Industrial City to investigate the deaths of their staff in the attacks and to lend assistance to the needs of their families.
Outside the industrial city, Muhammad Shaer, GM, Yanbu Holiday Inn, moved quickly to reassure his guests. “We have 100 guests with us, mostly businessmen,” he said. “Our location is between the Royal Commission and Yanbu Al-Bahr. We heard the shooting in the morning and of course our security has now increased to the maximum to help our guests feel more secure.
“I want to emphasize that there was absolutely no problem at the hotel. Our guests were panicking while the attacks were under way. We did our best to explain the situation to them and to keep everyone indoors. We will continue with business as usual with the increased security presence of course.
“In the Yanbu area there are only two expatriate compounds. It is a very open community. We have never had trouble like this before and what is happening now is terrible,” Shaer said.
The business with the greatest worry of course was the International Schools Group (ISG) which operates Yanbu International School. W. Fred Bowen, superintendent, International Schools Group, said the Yanbu International School was not attacked. The school’s emergency plan worked well and he was in continuous contact with the Yanbu school administration from his base in Dhahran. All students and staff were either kept away from or removed from the school premises without incident and school was canceled for the day.
