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