Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
95RIYADH5382
1995-12-11 10:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:  

SAUDI ARABIA: 1995 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

Tags:  PTER SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 111044Z DEC 95
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2341
UNCLAS RIYADH 005382 


S/CT FOR REAP

E.O.12356: N/A
TAGS: PTER SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: 1995 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 245276

UNCLAS RIYADH 005382


S/CT FOR REAP

E.O.12356: N/A
TAGS: PTER SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: 1995 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT

REF: STATE 245276


1. THE FOLLOWING ARE KEYED TO POINTS IN REFTEL.


A. (U) IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE NOVEMBER 13 BOMBING OF THE
RIYADH HEADQUARTERS OF THE OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT,
SAUDI ARABIAN NATIONAL GUARD (OPM/SANG),WHICH KILLED SEVEN
PERSONS, INCLUDING FIVE AMERICANS, AND INJURED MORE THAN FORTY
OTHERS, THE SAG LAUNCHED AN AGGRESSIVE INVESTIGATION IN FULL
COOPERATION WITH THE USG. THIS INCLUDED PROVIDING COMPLETE
SUPPORT TO AN FBI INVESTIGATION TEAM. INCREASED SECURITY
MEASURES FOR AMERICAN FACILITIES WERE INSTITUTED UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF SENIOR SAUDI LEADERS, AND THE TWO GOVERNMENTS
ENTERED INTO A DEEPER DIALOGUE ON COUNTERTERRORISM MEASURES IN
GENERAL. THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES APACE. THERE WERE NO
OTHER ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM OR SIGNIFICANT ACTS OF
DOMESTIC TERRORISM, BY DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEFINITION, IN SAUDI
ARABIA THIS YEAR, AND NO CASES ARE PENDING FROM PREVIOUS YEARS.


B. (U) THE SAG WAS NOT FORTHCOMING WHEN THE USG, ACTING ON A
TIP FROM AN INFORMANT, REQUESTED SAUDI ASSISTANCE IN DETAINING
A TERRORIST IDENTIFIED IN PRESS REPORTS AS HIZBALLAH SPECIAL
SECURITY CHIEF IMAD MUGHNIYAH. THE LATTER WAS REPORTEDLY
SCHEDULED TO MAKE A STOPOVER APRIL 7 IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA,
EN ROUTE FROM KHARTOUM TO BEIRUT. THE USG REQUESTED THAT THE
SAUDIS ARREST MUGHNIYAH UPON ARRIVAL IN JEDDAH AND TURN HIM
OVER TO OFFICIALS FOR TRANSPORT TO THE UNITED STATES TO STAND
TRIAL FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE HIJACKING OF TWA FLIGHT 847 IN

1985. THE SAG REFUSED THE PLANE PERMISSION TO LAND IN SAUDI
ARABIA.


C. (U) THERE ARE NO LEGAL OR POLITICAL IMPEDIMENTS TO SAG
PROSECUTION OF PERSONS COMMITTING TERRORIST ACTS WITHIN SAUDI
ARABIA. NO FORMAL EXTRADITION TREATIES EXIST BETWEEN SAUDI
ARABIA AND MOST OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES.


D. (U) SAUDI LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL--INCLUDING KING FAHD,
CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH, AND CABINET MINISTERS--ISSUED FORCEFUL
STATEMENTS CONDEMNING THE NOVEMBER 13 OPM/SANG BOMBING AND ITS
PERPETRATORS. OFFICIAL MEDIA CARRIED EXTENSIVE REPORTS OF
CONDEMNATION OF THE ATTACK ON U.S. FACILITIES ISSUED BY PUBLIC,
RELIGIOUS, AND PRIVATE GROUPS. THE MEDIA WERE SIMILARLY
DEPLOYED TO PUBLICIZE SAG COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES IN
INVESTIGATING THE BOMBING AND TO APPEAL FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
IN IDENTIFYING THE PERPETRATORS.

-- IN JULY, THE SAG RELEASED A PUBLIC STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE
KIDNAPPINGS OF THE FIVE WESTERNERS IN KASHMIR AS COUNTER TO THE
TENETS OF ISLAM AND CALLED FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF THE
HOSTAGES, AS DID SENIOR SAUDI RELIGIOUS LEADERS UPON THE URGING
OF THE SAG. IN NOVEMBER, THE SAG JOINED IN CONDEMNING THE
ASSASSINATION OF YITZHAK RABIN AND THE BOMBING OF THE EGYPTIAN
EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN.


E. (U) THE SAG UNDERTOOK NO MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS IN
INTERNATIONAL FORUMS IN 1995. HOWEVER, THE SAG DID CONDUCT A
MAJOR INVESTIGATION OF THE OPM/SANG BOMBING AND PROVIDED
OUTSTANDING SUPPORT TO THE USG'S OWN INVESTIGATION OF THE ATTACK.


F. (U) THE SAG OFFICIALLY DENIES IT FINANCIALLY SUPPORTS
INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUPS OR ACTIVITIES, AND SINCE APRIL
1993 SAUDI REGULATIONS HAVE REQUIRED NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) AND PRIVATE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES COLLECTING
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL CAUSES TO OBTAIN
FORMAL SAG AUTHORIZATION. THERE CONTINUE TO BE UNCONFIRMED
REPORTS OF FINANCIAL TIES BETWEEN TERRORIST GROUPS AND SOME
PRIVATE SAUDI-BASED NGOS.


G. (U) THE SAG DID NOT MAKE PUBLIC STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF
ANY OF THE SEVEN COUNTRIES CURRENTLY ON THE USG'S SO-CALLED
"TERRORISM LIST" ON A TERRORISM ISSUE. ON APRIL 20, THE SAG
ALLOWED A LIBYAN AIRLINES JET CARRYING LIBYAN HAJJ PILGRIMS TO
LAND AT JEDDAH'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, BE SERVICED, AND DEPART
IN VIOLATION OF UNSC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON LIBYA BECAUSE OF ITS
INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM. THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO
THE FLIGHT, MINISTER OF INTERIOR PRINCE NAIF HAD COMMENTED
PUBLICLY THAT ALL PILGRIMS WITH VALID HAJJ VISAS WOULD BE
RECEIVED BY SAUDI ARABIA, REGARDLESS OF THEIR MEANS OF
TRANSPORTATION.


H. (U) THE UNSOLVED NOVEMBER 13 BOMBING OF THE OPM/SANG
HEADQUARTERS IN RIYADH HAS GREATLY HEIGHTENED SAG CONCERNS
ABOUT THE THREAT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM. THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT
ALSO DOES NOT RULE OUT THE POTENTIAL FOR FOREIGN-SPONSORED
INCIDENTS, INCLUDING DURING HAJJ. ACCORDING TO PRESS ACCOUNTS,
THERE MAY ALSO EXIST OFFICIAL CONCERN THAT THE WAR IN
AFGHANISTAN ATTRACTED SAUDI AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS WHO RECEIVED
TRAINING IN THE USE OF EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER WEAPONS. SUCH
INDIVIDUALS MAY NOW ENGAGE IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES IN THE ARAB
WORLD AND ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING SAUDI ARABIA.

MABUS