Death toll grows in Riyadh suicide attacks
At least ten US citizens have been killed following three suicide bomb attacks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Up to 15 further individuals are feared dead and many more are known to be injured after the attacks appeared to target American and European citizens in the Saudi capital.
A fourth explosion was heard near Siyanco – a joint US-Saudi-owned company.
Arabic television station Al Arabiya claimed cars packed with explosives were driven into compounds at the Gharnata, Ishbiliya and Cordoba areas, northeast of Riyadh.
The suicide attacks came hours before US secretary of state Colin Powell’s arrival in the Saudi capital on Tuesday. He is thought unlikely to cancel the tour of the Middle East due to the increased terrorist threat.
US ambassador Robert W Jordan said preliminary estimates indicated that about 40 Americans were in hospital, with the number likely to increase.
Mr. Jordan said there was a chance that al Qaeda was involved in the terrorism.
Mr Powell later reportedly confirmed that the attack carried the hallmarks of the terror organisation.
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Osama bin Laden, the head of the al Qaeda network, which is blamed for the September 11th terrorist atrocities in New York.
