A group of 15 Saudi nationals is believed to have carried out a series of bombings in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said yesterday (see GSN, May 14).

“The fact that the terrorism happened is an indication of shortcomings, and we have to learn from our mistakes and seek to improve our performance in this respect,” Prince Saud said.

Those responsible for the attacks “will regret what they have done because they have turned this country into one fist aimed at putting an end to this heinous wound in the body of this nation so that it won’t return,” he said (Associated Press/Salon.com, May 15).

The people responsible for this week’s bombings are believed to be part of an al-Qaeda cell whose members fought a gun battle with Saudi authorities last week before escaping, Saudi officials said.  The cell, which has up to 60 members, was formed in Saudi Arabia after the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, officials said.  It is believed to be led by Khaled Jehani, who was previously based in al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, they said (Jerusalem Post, May 15).

U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Robert Jordan said Washington had unsuccessfully attempted to get security increased at Western residential compounds in Riyadh prior to the bombings.

“As soon as we learned of this particular threat information, we contacted the Saudi government,” Jordan said on CBS’ The Early Show.  “We continue to work with the Saudis on this, but they did not, as of the time of this tragic event, provide the additional security we requested,” he said.

Prince Saud yesterday denied that he had received such a request.

“Each time the American embassy or any other embassy seeks the intensification of security measures, the government fulfills this request,” he said (Associated Press/Salon.com).

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