RIYADH, 25 May 2004 — Security officers in the capital found the car used by two assailants in the killing of a German national on Saturday evening. The car was found parked next to a mosque in the Quds district Sunday night, Arab News has learned.
Eyewitnesses tipped off police after matching it to a description published in the local media.
The vehicle, a white Honda with the license plate number 990, was found outside the mosque just off Exits 11 and 12 on the East Ring Road.
Sources confirmed that the vehicle had been hired from a local car rental company. Security sources said details of the assailants who took the car would remain classified until the investigation is over.
German Embassy spokesman Elmar Jacobs said the mission “has not been informed about any detention so far. We are closely working with the Saudi officials, who I think promptly release any new information in such situations.”
“The embassy is taking care of the victim’s family,” said Jacobs, adding the body of Hermann Bengler, whose name was also given as Dengel, remains at a local hospital.
On Saturday evening, Bengler, 40, was gunned down in his car in a drive-by shooting after leaving a bank at around 6:15 in the evening.
Bengler was married to a Filipina named May Antoinette Fernandez and the couple have a four-year-old daughter.
The shooting took place immediately outside the Arab National Bank branch which Bengler had just visited.
A security source said the victim worked as head chef for Saudia Catering for the last six years.
