Kidnap Warning For Expats In Saudi Arabia

The US embassy in Riyadh has warned US citizens that there is an increased risk of kidnaps in the capital city

London, UK (Pryce Warner International) September 30th, 2011 – According to the US embassy an unidentified terrorist organisation may be planning to kidnap western nationals in Riyadh.

American citizens have warned to exercise “prudence and enhanced security awareness at all times”. The warning was issued on Thursday the 29th of September.

The warning continued: “US Embassy in Riyadh advises US citizens in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia that we have received information that a terrorist group in Saudi Arabia may be planning to abduct westerners in Riyadh.”

Following a wave of terrorist attacks between 2003-2006, the kingdom launched a crackdown on terrorist groups. In one attack suicide bombers killed 35 people at a housing compound for westerns, while the last attack directed at foreign nationals was in 2007.

Theodore Karasik, a middle east security expert at the Institue for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis commented: ““The fact that the warning came out now just shows that there is still al-Qaeda activity in Saudi Arabia that we haven’t seen in the recent past... He continued: ““It’s been very safe and secure so this development is very interesting and I think it deserves more attention to the why now part than anything else. In Saudi Arabia, we haven’t had a kidnapping or a beheading for a very long time.”

The warning that came on Thursday follows a previous announcement in August that warned of the ongoing threat of terrorist groups. In that warning westerners were advised that terrorists may target housing compounds, hotels, shopping areas or any other are were western citizens congregate in large numbers.

Pryce Warner International Group provide International Asset & Investment Management, Independent Financial Advice & QROPS Overseas Pensions.

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By: Aneil Fatania
Financial Editor
Pryce Warner International Group
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