A day after the U.S. warned of terror attacks and shut its missions in Saudi Arabia, three car bombs rocked the diplomatic quarter in the capital of Riyadh, killing at least 11 people and wounding more than 120.
A large blast was followed by two smaller ones 15 seconds apart.
Fox News reports the attack targeted the B2 compound, which is in the Nakheel neighborhood near the Muhaya shopping center. It is a residential compound containing 200 houses and most of its residents are Lebanese. Some Saudis also live there, plus a few German, French and Italian families.
A State Department spokeswoman says all known Americans are accounted for and the United States was unaware of any American casualties.
According to reports, terrorists first fired on security guards and then drove their explosives-laden vehicles through the gates of the compound.
A senior official in the Saudi Interior Ministry said his government was certain the attack was planned and carried out by al-Qaida using the same suicide car bombing strategy employed in the May 12 attacks in Riyadh, reports CNN.
Saudi Arabia is battling a surge in Islamist violence believed to be linked to bin Laden’s al-Qaida network.
Five militants have died in clashes with security forces since Monday, when authorities foiled a planned attack on Muslim pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca.
Suicide bombers killed 35 people, including nine Americans, in an attack on Western residential compounds in Riyadh six months ago.
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WND Staff