The U.S. embassy in Riyadh has warned American citizens of a plot by a ‘terrorist group’ to kidnap westerners in the Saudi capital. In a statement issued on the embassy’s website, the embassy advised the U.S. citizens in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that they have received information that a terrorist group in Saudi Arabia may be planning to abduct westerners in Riyadh. It added that the U.S. embassy in Riyadh reminds all U.S. citizens to exercise enhanced security awareness and prudence at all times. The warning has advised people to keep their security and situational awareness levels high, and offered steps they could take to improve their security.

Saudi Arabia has witnessed a wave of deadly attacks by Al-Qaeda between 2003 and 2006, which prompted a security force crackdown on the local branch of the jihadist network founded by the late Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.

Al Qaeda still remains very active in the neighboring Yemen, where the Saudi and the Yemeni franchises of Al Qaeda joined forces under the banner of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. In August 2009, a suicide bomber from the group blew himself up in an abortive attempt on the life of Prince Mohammed, the son of the Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, who leads the campaign against militants in the kingdom.

*************************************************************

The Views and Opinions expressed by the author are his or her opinions only and do not necessarily reflect those of this Web-Site or its agents, affiliates, officers, directors, staff, or contractors. The author at the time of this article did not own any shares or receive any consideration financial or otherwise from any company or person mentioned or referred to in the article.