US Mission in Jeddah Attacked

US Mission in Saudi City Attacked
Gunmen have attacked the US consulate in the Saudi port city of Jeddah.

Security forces have sealed off the area and witnesses reported bursts of gunfire and two plumes of smoke rising from the building.

"We can confirm there has been an attack on the consulate," an official spokeswoman said, adding that the incident was "still in progress".

Witnesses quoted by Associated Press said a car exploded in front of the consulate compound.

About 200 Saudi police and National Guard soldiers are reported to have been deployed in the area.

Correspondents say security around the consulate has been extremely tight since a series of bombings in 2003, mainly targeting buildings that house foreigners.

The US embassy in the capital Riyadh and another consulate in the eastern city of Dhahran were also closed as a precaution, the spokeswoman said.


Do you live in Saudi and did you witness the incident in Jeddah? Send us your comments and experiences.


Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/4071387.stm

Published: 2004/12/06 09:36:41 GMT

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