Saudi authorities have detained three suspected members of Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, security sources said Tuesday. "One of the three is cooperating with us, he is talking to security," one source told Reuters.
Earlier, the United States, Britain and Germany said they were closing their embassies in Saudi Arabia Wednesday, citing security concerns.
In its statement, the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia said it would close some missions in the kingdom on Wednesday over fears of more attacks against unspecified targets.
"In response to information that some strikes may be imminent, the embassy and consulates general in Jeddah and Dhahran will be closed on May 21, 2003," the embassy said in a statement. It added they would not reopen before May 25.
Saudi Arabia has said it was stepping up measures to prevent terror attacks after the Riyadh blasts which killed at least 34 people, including eight Americans.
The embassy warning comes a day after Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, said he believed the suicide bombers who struck Riyadh were planning a much bigger operation.
On Monday, Saudi authorities detained a gunman who was found acting in a suspicious manner outside the US Consulate in Dhahran. The consulate was immediately closed for normal operations. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
