From Reuters, with thanks to Nicolei:
KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – “Are you Muslim or Christian? We don’t want to kill Muslims. Show us where the Americans and Westerners live,” Islamic militants told an Arab after launching a shooting spree on Westerners in Saudi Arabia.
The four gunmen, aged 18 to 25 and wearing military vests, grabbed Abu Hashem, an Iraqi with a U.S. passport, in front of his home in the Oasis compound in Khobar but let him go when he told them he was a Muslim.
“Don’t be afraid. We won’t kill Muslims even if you are an American,” he quoted them as saying.
That’s odd. I keep hearing terrorism is caused by American foreign policy.
Abu Hashem, the director of a Saudi firm who has been in Khobar for six months, said he wanted to move to Bahrain.
He said the four gunmen had been polite and calm.
“They gave me a lecture on Islam and said they were defending their country and ridding it of infidels,” he told Reuters at Qusaibi hotel.
“The gunmen were so polite. I cannot comprehend this politeness they showed me because I am a Muslim and this cruelty to others,” said Abu Hashem, who declined to give his first name.
In response to the above, an urgent press release from the World Lebanese Cultural Union (thanks to Walid Phares):
WORLD LEBANESE CULTURAL UNION (INGO)
Office of the Secretary General
www.wlcu.orgCONCERNS ABOUT LEBANESE VICTIMS OF TERROR IN SAUDI ARABIA
The World Lebanese Cultural Union (WLCU), the legitimate representative of the Lebanese Diaspora expresses its utmost concerns as a result of the Terrorist attacks in Khubar in Saudi Arabia. From media reports and sources within the community, the WLCU has learned that the armed Terrorists have targeted Lebanese nationals among other nationals and are holding a number of them as hostage, till this hour.
The WLCU was particularly concerned by the fact that the Terrorists have once again targeted a particular religious community among the Lebanese nationals, as reported by survivors and the media. The attacks of last October were a warning. Today’s attack confirms our concerns about the security of the Lebanese community, in Saudi Arabia.
The WLCU condemns these attacks, and calls on
1) The Saudi Government to do all it can to protect Lebanese lives.
2) The UN to intervene and help rescuing thousands of Lebanese workers and business people in Saudi Arabia.
3) The Lebanese Government to take all measures needed to face the terrorist threat against its own citizens and nationals abroad. The Lebanese Government is responsible for the security of these citizens. It must condemn the perpetrators firmly and crack down on their support organizations based in Lebanon. Failing to do so, will engage the responsibility of the Lebanese Government as well.
As developments are taking place, the WLCU will monitor the situation of the community in Saudi Arabia and remain in contact with its branches in the Arabian Peninsula as well as with concerned Governments around the world.
The Office of the Secretary General.
For media contacts, please contact the Commission on Information of the WLCU at wlcuuscanada@aol.com