JEDDAH, 31 August 2004 — An American escaped unhurt yesterday when a US Consulate vehicle in which he was traveling came under fire from an unidentified gunman in Jeddah.
“No one was hurt in the incident,” Brig. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry said.
US Embassy spokesman Michael Macy confirmed that the vehicle belonged to the US Consulate in Jeddah. “There were no injuries either to the driver or passengers,” he said, adding that the vehicle sustained minor damage in the attack that occurred at 11 a.m. some distance away from the US Consulate.
Gen. Turki downplayed the shooting incident saying “a small personal weapon, a pistol,” was used in the attack, which took place while the American was coming from a bank in the city. Security agencies are investigating the incident, the spokesman added. The incident had no impact on the normal business day of the consulate in Jeddah and the US Embassy in Riyadh, the official said. Both of them will be open to the public today.
It was not clear who carried out the attack or what the motive was. But militants loyal to Al-Qaeda have been carrying out suicide bombings and attacks against Western citizens in the country. Some 90 people including police officers and foreigners have been killed.
Crown Prince Abdullah told the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday that the Kingdom would continue its campaign to stamp out terrorism. Between April and June there was a surge of violence aimed at foreigners and since then militants have clashed with police several times.
Yesterday’s shooting was the first known attack on a Western target in the Kingdom since the Aug. 3 fatal shooting of an Irishman in Riyadh. Traditionally there are fewer Westerners in Saudi Arabia during the three-month summer than at other times of the year. The intense heat and school holidays mean that many take their annual leave during that period. This year, because of the violence of the previous six months, many extended their leave periods.
