O 121333Z DEC 01
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7440
INFO GCC COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 003968 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PTER PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI ARABIA: 2001 ANNUAL TERRORISM 
REPORT 
 
REF:  STATE 198912 
 
¶1.  FOLLOWING RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS IN REFTEL: 
 
A)  POST SHOULD HIGHLIGHT SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS TAKEN BY 
HOST GOVERNMENTS TO SUPPORT THE GLOBAL COALITION, 
PARTICULARLY ACTIONS TAKEN AGAINST AL-QAIDA AND THE 
TALIBAN. 
 
RESPONSE:  THE SAUDI ARABIAN GOVERNMENT (SAG) HAS 
SUPPORTED THE GLOBAL COALITION AND HAS RESPONDED 
POSITIVELY TO VARIOUS REQUESTS FOR CONCRETE ACTION AND 
ASSISTANCE.  EXAMPLES INCLUDE PROVISION OF OVERFLIGHT 
CLEARANCE FOR AIRCRAFT INVOLVED IN OPERATION ENDURING 
FREEDOM, THE CUTTING OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE 
TALIBAN REGIME IN AFGHANISTAN, AND COOPERATION WITH 
THE U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE 
SEPTEMBER 11 INCIDENTS.  IN ADDITION, SAUDI ARABIA HAS 
TAKEN STEPS TO ENSURE THAT TERRORISTS ARE DENIED 
ACCESS TO THE SAUDI BANKING SYSTEM AND HAS ISSUED 
INSTRUCTIONS TO BANKS IN SAUDI ARABIA TO LOOK FOR AND 
FREEZE ACCOUNTS LISTED BY THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL 
SANCTIONS COMMITTEE. 
 
B)  PLEASE PROVIDE VIVID EXAMPLES OF TERRORIST 
INCIDENTS THAT WERE THWARTED, AND TERRORIST CELLS THAT 
WERE BROKEN UP DURING 2001 WHICH ARE WELL DOCUMENTED 
AND UNCLASSIFIED.  PLEASE POUCH ANY PARTICULARLY 
EVOCATIVE OR DRAMATIC PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WOULD 
ILLUSTRATE THESE CASE STUDIES.  PLEASE INCLUDE THE 
NAME OF THE PUBLICATION IN WHICH THE PHOTO ORIGINALLY 
APPEARED AND THE DATE OF APPEARANCE. 
 
RESPONSE:  POST HAS NO RELEASABLE MATERIAL THAT IS 
RESPONSIVE TO THIS QUERY. 
 
C)  DESCRIBE THE RESPONSE OF THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO 
ACTS OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND/OR SIGNIFICANT 
ACTS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM DURING 2001, INCLUDING ANY 
HOST GOVERNMENT PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO TERRORISM. 
 
RESPONSE:  THERE WAS ONLY ONE SIGNIFICANT ACT OF 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN 2001: THE HIJACKING OF A 
TURKISH PLANE EN ROUTE TO RUSSIA IN MARCH, 2001.  THE 
ONLY JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS IN THIS CASE TO DATE HAVE 
BEEN THE DENIAL OF RUSSIA'S AND TURKEY'S EXTRADITION 
REQUESTS. (SEE RIYADH 0721) 
 
D)  DID THE HOST GOVERNMENT EXTRADITE OR REQUEST THE 
EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED TERRORISTS FOR PROSECUTION 
DURING THE YEAR? 
 
RESPONSE:  NO. 
 
E)  DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPEDIMENTS TO HOST 
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTION AND/OR EXTRADITION OF SUSPECTED 
TERRORISTS. 
 
RESPONSE: NO LEGAL OR POLITICAL IMPEDIMENTS EXIST TO 
THE SAG'S PROSECUTION OF PEOPLE ALLEGED TO HAVE 
COMMITTED TERRORIST ACTS WITHIN SAUDI ARABIA. 
HOWEVER, THE SAG HAS FEW EXTRADITION TREATIES OUTSIDE 
OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE 
ISLAMIC COUNCIL (OIC) AND THE ARAB LEAGUE. THE 
LEAGUE'S ANTI-TERRORIST AGREEMENT, WHICH SAUDI ARABIA 
HAS RATIFIED, CONTAINS EXTRADITION ARTICLES. 
 
F)  DISCUSS HOST GOVERNMENT RESPONSES OTHER THAN 
PROSECUTION.  THESE WOULD INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED 
TO, PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OR 
OFFICIAL NEWS AGENCIES FOLLOWING A TERRORIST INCIDENT 
(IN OR OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY) AND EFFORTS BY HOST 
GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE TERRORIST INCIDENTS OR TO 
ASSIST WITH INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM INVESTIGATION. 
 
RESPONSE: THE KING, CROWN PRINCE, MINISTER OF DEFENSE, 
MINISTER OF INTERIOR, MINISTER OF INFORMATION, SENIOR 
RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND OFFICIAL NEWS MEDIA PUBLICLY 
AND CONSISTENTLY CONDEMN TERRORISM IN UNEQUIVOCAL 
TERMS, INCLUDING BY REFUTING IDEOLOGICAL AND RELIGIOUS 
JUSTIFICATIONS FOR TERRORISM.  IN OCTOBER 2001 THE 
GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS ACCEDING TO THE UN 
CONVENTION ON BLOCKING FINANCIAL ASSETS FOR TERRORIST 
ORGANIZATIONS.  THE SAG CONTINUES ITS INVESTIGATION OF 
THE KHOBAR TOWERS BOMB ATTACK OF JUNE 1996 THAT KILLED 
19 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL.  THE SAG IS STILL HOLDING 
A NUMBER OF SAUDI CITIZENS IN DETENTION IN CONNECTION 
WITH THE BOMBING, INCLUDING SAUDI CITIZEN HANI AL- 
SAYEGH.  NO PROSECUTION OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC LEGAL 
ACTION BEGAN IN 2001 REGARDING THE BOMBING. IN 
OCTOBER, 2000, TWO SAUDI MEN FORCED A SAUDI ARABIAN 
AIRLINES FLIGHT FROM JEDDAH TO LONDON TO LAND IN IRAQ. 
IRAQI AUTHORITIES DETAINED THE HIJACKERS AND RETURNED 
THE PASSENGERS AND AIRCRAFT TO JEDDAH.  IRAQ DENIED AN 
EXTRADITION REQUEST BY THE SAG.  NO ONE WAS HARMED IN 
THE HIJACKING.  SAUDI AUTHORITIES HAVE COMPLETED THE 
INVESTIGATION INTO A STRING OF BOMBINGS IN RIYADH AND 
THE EASTERN PROVINCE AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THEY 
WERE CRIMINAL RATHER THAN POLITICAL IN MOTIVATION. 
 
G)  DESCRIBE MAJOR COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN 
IN 2001 BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT.  INCLUDE STEPS TAKEN 
IN INTERNATIONAL FORA. 
 
RESPONSE: THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED ITS FULL 
COOPERATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION AGAINST 
TERRORISM.  THIS COOPERATION INCLUDES MILITARY, LEGAL 
AND PUBLIC RELATIONS. 
 
H)  DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT HOST GOVERNMENT SUPPORT 
FOR INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, TERRORISTS, OR TERRORIST 
GROUPS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) POLITICAL AND 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF TERRORISTS OR THEIR ACTIVITIES; 
DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT THROUGH DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION; 
MISUSE OF THE DIPLOMATIC POUCH AND OTHER DIPLOMATIC 
PRIVILEGES TO SUPPORT TERRORISM; PROVISION OF 
SANCTUARY AND/OR THE PRESENCE OF OFFICES OF TERRORIST 
GROUPS; PROVISION OF TRAINING OR TRAINING SITES; 
PROVISION OF WEAPONS; AND POSITIONS TAKEN ON TERRORISM 
ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL FORA. 
 
RESPONSE: THE SAG DOES NOT POLITICALLY OR FINANCIALLY 
SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS OR 
ACTIVITIES.  ITS REGULATIONS REQUIRE THAT NON- 
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND PRIVATE VOLUNTARY 
AGENCIES OBTAIN GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZATION TO SOLICIT 
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL CAUSES. 
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THESE REGULATIONS ARE 
CONSISTENTLY ENFORCED.  THERE CONTINUE TO BE 
ALLEGATIONS THAT SOME INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST 
ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES SOLICIT AND COLLECT FUNDS 
FROM PRIVATE CITIZENS IN SAUDI ARABIA. 
 
I)  HAS THE HOST GOVERNMENT MADE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENTS 
IN SUPPORT OF A TERRORIST-SUPPORTING COUNTRY ON A 
TERRORISM ISSUE?  (THE SEVEN GOVERNMENTS DESIGNATED BY 
THE SECRETARY AS STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM ARE CUBA, 
IRAN, IRAQ, LIBYA, NORTH KOREA, SYRIA AND SUDAN.) 
 
RESPONSE: THE SAG MADE NO PUBLIC STATEMENTS SUPPORTING 
ANY OF THE SEVEN COUNTRIES ON THE USG'S TERRORISM LIST 
REGARDING A TERRORIST ISSUE. 
 
J)  DESCRIBE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE SINCE 2001, 
POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S 
ATTITUDE TOWARD TERRORISM, INTERNATIONAL OR DOMESTIC. 
WHAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CHANGE? 
 
RESPONSE:  THE ATTITUDE OF THE SAG TOWARD TERRORISM 
DID NOT CHANGE DURING 2001. 
 
K)  DESCRIBE U.S. COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS AND 
INITIATIVES WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING, BUT 
NOT LIMITED TO, REQUESTS TO THE HOST GOVERNMENT FOR 
SPECIFIC COOPERATION AND EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES 
IN THE HOST COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE INTERNATIONAL 
FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO TERRORIST GROUPS DIRECTLY OR IN 
SUPPORT OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.  DESCRIBE THE EXTENT OF 
THE HOST COUNTRY'S COOPERATION WITH THOSE EFFORTS AND 
INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST 
GOVERNMENT HAS SATISFIED THE SPECIFIC REQUESTS. 
 
RESPONSE: FOLLOWING A 1995 BOMBING THAT KILLED U.S. 
MILITARY PERSONNEL ADVISING THE SAUDI ARABIAN NATIONAL 
GUARD (OPM/SANG), A USG INTERAGENCY COUNTERTERRORISM 
TEAM VISITED SAUDI ARABIA TO BEGIN UNPRECEDENTED, 
COORDINATED, INTERAGENCY CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE USG 
AND SAG ON COUNTERTERRORISM AND SECURITY ISSUES.  THIS 
COOPERATION, WHICH ENGENDERED HIGH-LEVEL SAG INTEREST 
AND THE PARTICIPATION OF MULTIPLE SAG MINISTRIES, HAS 
CONTINUED THROUGHOUT 2001.  THE USG AND SAG CONTINUE 
TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON COUNTERTERRORISM AND 
SECURITY ISSUES AFFECTING AMERICAN AND SAUDI INTERESTS 
IN THE REGION.  CONSULTATIONS AND TRAINING FOR SAUDI 
COUNTERTERRORISM AND SECURITY OFFICIALS IN THE UNITED 
STATES ALSO OCCURRED.  IN THE WAKE OF THE SEPTEMBER 
ATTACKS, U.S. AND SAUDI OFFICIALS HAVE MET IN THE 
CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE TRANS- 
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO TERRORIST GROUPS 
DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY.  THE FBI COORDINATES ITS 
INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS WITH THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR 
AND MAINTAINS A PERMANENTLY STAFFED LEGAL ATTACHE 
OFFICE IN THE U.S. EMBASSY.  IN OCTOBER, 2001, AN 
APPARENT SUICIDE BOMB EXPLODED IN AL-KHOBAR, KILLING 
ONE AMERICAN AND WOUNDING ANOTHER.  THE SAG 
INVESTIGATION HAS SINCE REVEALED THAT THE BOMBER WAS A 
PALESTINIAN, ACTING ALONE, FOR UNVERIFIED MOTIVES 
RELATING TO THE PALESTINIAN INTIFADA. 
 
L)  IN ADDITION TO THIS GENERAL INFORMATION, IF THE 
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT COOPERATION FROM 
THE HOST GOVERNMENT DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN 
THE INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF AN ACT OF 
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIZENS 
OR INTERESTS, PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON: 
 
     ¶I.  THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT IN 
2001 COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING WITH THE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT IN APPREHENDING, CONVICTING, AND 
PUNISHING THE INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE 
FOR THE ACT; AND 
 
     II.  THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT IN 
2001 COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING IN PREVENTING 
FURTHER ACTS OF TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES 
CITIZENS IN THE HOST GOVERNMENT'S TERRITORY. 
 
RESPONSE: (I)  THE SAG HAS COOPERATED FULLY IN 
INVESTIGATING PARTICIPATION OF SAUDI CITIZENS IN THE 
SEPTEMBER ATTACKS AND CONTINUES TO COORDINATE WITH USG 
OFFICIALS IN EFFORTS TO HALT THE FLOW OF FUNDS TO 
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS 
 
   (II) THE SAG CONTINUES TO DEVOTE CONSIDERABLE HUMAN 
AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PROTECT USG PERSONNEL AND 
INTERESTS FOLLOWING THE OPM/SANG, KHOBAR TOWERS, EAST 
AFRICA BOMBINGS, AND THREATS TO THE U.S. EMBASSY, 
CONSULATES AND OTHER U.S. INTERESTS IN 2001.  IT MADE 
AVAILABLE TO COALITION FORCES THE PRINCE SULTAN 
AIRBASE AT AL KHARJ, WHERE MOST U.S. SERVICEMEN IN 
SAUDI ARABIA ARE NOW LOCATED, AND A RESIDENTIAL 
COMPOUND, KNOWN AS ESKAN VILLAGE, SOUTH OF RIYADH FOR 
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN DOD PERSONNEL.  THE SAG SPENT 
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FACILITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE SECURITY.  THE SAG ALSO WORKED 
WITH AMERICAN SECURITY PERSONNEL IN AN ONGOING EFFORT 
TO ENHANCE PROTECTIVE MEASURES AT ALL OTHER USG 
FACILITIES IN SAUDI ARABIA, INCLUDING THE U.S. EMBASSY 
IN RIYADH AND THE CONSULATES IN JEDDAH AND DHAHRAN. 
USG AND SAG OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO MEET REGULARLY TO 
REVIEW THE SAFETY OF AMERICANS IN SAUDI ARABIA. 
 
M)  IF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT HAS SOUGHT 
COOPERATION DURING THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS IN THE 
PREVENTION OF AN ACT OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM 
AGAINST U.S. CITIZENS OR INTERESTS, PLEASE DESCRIBE 
THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE HOST GOVERNMENT IN 2001 
COOPERATED OR IS COOPERATING IN PREVENTING ACTS OF 
TERRORISM AGAINST UNITED STATES CITIZENS IN THE HOST 
GOVERNMENT'S TERRITORY. 
 
RESPONSE: THE SAG HAS PROVIDED TO THE USG INFORMATION 
ON THREATS DIRECTED AT U.S. INTERESTS IN SAUDI ARABIA 
AND CONTINUES TO WORK CLOSELY WITH USG AGENCIES TO 
PREVENT TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS IN THE 
KINGDOM.  REPORTED THREATS HAVE REGULARLY LED TO THE 
RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF EXTRA SECURITY PERSONNEL AND THE 
PLACEMENT OF PERMANENT PHYSICAL BARRIERS, CHECKPOINTS, 
AND OTHER VISIBLE DETERRENTS. 
 
 
SCOBEY