Al-Qaida suspected in Saudi attack

WASHINGTON – The deadly suicide bombing of a housing complex in the capital of Saudi Arabia appears to be the work of an al-Qaida terrorist cell intent on rattling the Saudi government, U.S. and Saudi authorities said Sunday.

As the death toll from the Saturday night attack rose to 17, including five children, investigators pointed to similarities to three May 12 bombings in Riyadh and to warnings gathered from intelligence sources and al-Qaida Web sites.

“I feel personally quite sure because this attack bears their hallmark,” said Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who met with Crown Prince Abdullah in the Saudi capital. “My view is these al-Qaida terrorists … would prefer to have many such events.”

The bombing of the upscale Muhaya compound follows several months of intensified anti-terrorist activity by Saudi security forces, who have arrested more than 600 suspects and seized significant amounts of explosives and weapons. There have been two armed confrontations in the past week alone.

“When you put it all together, the picture is very clear. We are locked in a struggle with the terrorists. We have killed more al-Qaida people than any other country in the world,” said a senior Saudi official, who requested anonymity. “They want to take us back to the dark ages.”

Led by Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida has long opposed the Saudi royal family, accusing it of being insufficiently Islamic and too close to the West, particularly the United States.

President Bush telephoned Abdullah on Sunday to offer condolences and cooperation.

The Riyadh terrorists chose a soft target when they detonated a motor vehicle loaded with explosives in the gated community, home primarily to foreign workers, particularly Arabs. Four Americans were treated at a hospital for minor wounds and released, said Amanda Batt, a State Department spokeswoman.

A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Riyadh said officials have been in contact with U.S. government personnel and citizens who had registered with U.S. authorities. All were reported safe, the official said.

The embassy and two consulates, closed Saturday because of an urgent terrorism alert, will remain shut at least through Tuesday. At that point, the embassy’s status will be decided “day by day,” the official said.

Prince Turki al Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Britain, blamed an “evil cult” for the attack and said the militants’ goal is “the destruction of the kingdom.” Prince Nayef, the Saudi interior minister, toured the bomb-damaged neighborhood and pledged to defeat Saudi Arabia’s violent opponents “no matter how long the path is.”

“No mercy or pity,” Nayef said, “should be felt for anyone carrying out such acts.”