SAUDI ARABIA: 1989 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 09764 E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR TAGS: PTER KPRP SA SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: 1989 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT, CLASSIFIED ANNEX REF.: STATE 363024 ¶1. (CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT) ¶2. THERE FOLLOWS DRAFT VERSION OF CLASSIFIED ANNEX OF SAUDI ARABIAN SUBMISSION TO THE 1989 REPORT TO CONGRESS ON TERRORISM, WHICH SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUCTION WITH THE UNCLASSIFIED DRAFT (SEPTEL). ¶3. IN ADDITION TO INTENSIFIED INTERNAL SECURITY FOLLOWING THE EXECUTION OF THE MECCA BOMBERS, SOURCES CLOSE TO THE KING INDICATED THAT A BAN ON NON-OFFICIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL WAS IMPOSED ON ALL MEMBERS OF THE AL SAUD RULING FAMILY, SINCE HIZBULLAH HAD SPECIFICALLY THREATENED TO KILL 16 MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY IN RETALIATION FOR THE EXECUTIONS. ONE SENIOR PRINCESS WAS SAID HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN STOPPED AT THE AIRPORT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEFY THE BAN. THE INTENSIFIED INTERNAL SECURITY WAS NOT TOTALLY RELATED TO THESE THREATS, HOWEVER. SAUDI AND EXPATRIATE SOURCES ALSO REPORTED AN UPSURGE IN HIGHWAY ROBBERY AND OTHER CRIME IN RURAL AREAS NEAR RIYADH, WHICH APPEARED TO BE ECONOMICALLY MOTIVATED. ¶4. SAUDI INTERIOR MINISTRY SOURCES INDICATED THAT THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ANTI-TERRORIST UNIT (AND THE PRIOR SACKING OF ITS CHIEF IN OCTOBER) WERE ALSO PARTLY DUE TO OFFICIAL DISSATISFACTION OVER THE FACT THAT ATU HAD FAILED TO PREVENT THE MECCA BOMBINGS, IN SPITE OF INTENSE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS DURING THE HAJJ IN MECCA AND SURROUNDING AREAS. FREEMAN