US embassy cable - 89RIYADH9764

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 09764 
 
E.O. 12356:  DECL: OADR 
TAGS:  PTER, KPRP, SA 
SUBJECT:  SAUDI ARABIA: 1989 ANNUAL TERRORISM REPORT, 
          CLASSIFIED ANNEX 
 
REF.: STATE 363024 
 
1. (CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT) 
 
2. THERE FOLLOWS DRAFT VERSION OF CLASSIFIED ANNEX OF 
SAUDI ARABIAN SUBMISSION TO THE 1989 REPORT TO CONGRESS 
ON TERRORISM, WHICH SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUCTION WITH THE 
UNCLASSIFIED DRAFT (SEPTEL). 
 
3. IN ADDITION TO INTENSIFIED INTERNAL SECURITY FOLLOWING 
THE EXECUTION OF THE MECCA BOMBERS, SOURCES CLOSE TO THE 
KING INDICATED THAT A BAN ON NON-OFFICIAL FOREIGN TRAVEL 
WAS IMPOSED ON ALL MEMBERS OF THE AL SAUD RULING FAMILY, 
SINCE HIZBULLAH HAD SPECIFICALLY THREATENED TO KILL 16 
MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY IN RETALIATION FOR THE 
EXECUTIONS.  ONE SENIOR PRINCESS WAS SAID HAVE ACTUALLY 
BEEN STOPPED AT THE AIRPORT WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO DEFY 
THE BAN.  THE INTENSIFIED INTERNAL SECURITY WAS NOT 
TOTALLY RELATED TO THESE THREATS, HOWEVER.  SAUDI AND 
EXPATRIATE SOURCES ALSO REPORTED AN UPSURGE IN HIGHWAY 
ROBBERY AND OTHER CRIME IN RURAL AREAS NEAR RIYADH, WHICH 
APPEARED TO BE ECONOMICALLY MOTIVATED. 
 
4.  SAUDI INTERIOR MINISTRY SOURCES INDICATED THAT THE 
DISSOLUTION OF THE ANTI-TERRORIST UNIT (AND THE PRIOR 
SACKING OF ITS CHIEF IN OCTOBER) WERE ALSO PARTLY DUE TO 
OFFICIAL DISSATISFACTION OVER THE FACT THAT ATU HAD 
FAILED TO PREVENT THE MECCA BOMBINGS, IN SPITE OF INTENSE 
SECURITY PRECAUTIONS DURING THE HAJJ IN MECCA AND 
SURROUNDING AREAS. 
 
 
FREEMAN