The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh held a meeting today for representatives of the American community, concerning security issues and the recent compound bombings. Your About.com Guide to Islam was there, and brings you the facts, dispels the rumors, and provides more detail about what actually happened the night of May 12, 2003.
Speakers atthe meetingincludedThe Honorable Robert W. Jordan, U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Mr. Greg Hays, the Regional Security Officer. This meeting was called as the State Department orders all Embassy dependents and non-essential personnel to leave the Kingdom. The purpose of the meeting wasto discuss the regional security situation, and to both seek and share information about the attacks and aftermath.
All Embassy officials repeatedly expressed their condolences for those injured or killed in these attacks. After the Ambassador made a brief statement, the majority of the time was spent in a Question & Answer session, where more information subsequently came to light. A number of people expressed confusion about the various rumors and conflicting media reports, and asked for the facts of what actually happened.
Conflicting Reports of Dead and Injured
Ambassador Jordan stated that as of the date and time of this meeting, 7 Americans have been killed, in addition to a number of victims of other nationalities. There were more than 40 hospital admissions involving American citizens, but as of this date only 17 remain in the hospital, some in critical condition. The rumor of 90+ fatalities is not true. Embassy personnel have visited with all of the injured Americans and are providing caseworkers to help them and their families.
The names of those injured or killed have not been released. The Embassy is bound by privacy laws, restricting the release of names without consent.
How many locations were hit?
There were three attacks, each on a different compound housing westerners in Riyadh. Initial rumors of a fourth attack on a joint U.S.-Saudi company proved to be unfounded. These rumors are false -- there were only three attack sites:
- Al-Hamra Compound
- Vinnell Corporation Compound
- Jadawel Compound
Details of the Attacks
Mr. Greg Hays, the Regional Security Officer, gavea detailedreport of what actually occurred, scene by scene, at the various compounds.How did the attackers penetrate security? How many vehicles were involved?Was there shooting before, during, orafter the explosions? Was there more than one bomb at any site? Read on for the details...
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