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A TV grab shows that black smoke was seen rising from the US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Dec. 6, 2004. At least four Saudi national guards were killed by the gunmen who stormed the US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Monday. (Xinhua/AFP photo)
File photo taken on Sept. 12, 2004 shows the outside of US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. (Xinhua file photo)
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Four Saudi guards killed at US consulate in Jeddah
RIYADH, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- At least four Saudi national guards were killed by the gunmen who stormed the US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Monday, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.
Attackers who stormed the US consulate in Jeddah on Monday killed four Saudi guards and took 18 local staff hostage, security sources were quoted as saying.
Witnesses said Saudi security forces have broken into the compound and were chasing attackers.
A gunbattle raged inside, in the latest strike against Western targets in the kingdom, they said, adding four attackers remained inside the US consulate where a gunbattle ongoing was taking place more than an hour after the initial blast.
Earlier Monday, gunshots and explosions were heard and witnesses reported plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the area.
US Embassy spokeswoman Carol Kalin said in Riyadh that there were no reports of American casualties.
"We can confirm there has been an attack on the consulate,"Kalin said, adding "no reports of any American casualties. The incident is still in progress with Saudi emergency forces securing the compound."
It was not clear yet whether the attack was linked to Islamic militants bent on driving westerners out of the kingdom.
Violence has surged since last May, during which dozens of foreigners were attacked and several bombing attacks staged. Enditem
Three gunmen killed in attack on US consulate in Jeddah: interior ministry
RAYADH, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Three attackers were killed and two were injured and arrested by Saudi security forces when US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah came under attack Monday, the Interior Ministry announced.
The official Saudi Press Agency quoted a statement as saying that Saudi security forces engaged the attackers, "killing three aggressors, and two were captured after they were hit."
The statement said a "stray bunch", a reference to Islamic militants, threw explosives at the gate of the consulate then entered.
"The situation was brought under control," it added. Earlier the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV reported that at least one gunman was killed by Saudi security forces when US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah came under attack Monday.
Another two attackers were arrested after they exchanged fire with security guards inside the US mission compound.
According to US Embassy spokesperson Carol Kalin, all US diplomats have been accounted for and there was no word on US casualties.
The attack started early Monday with gunshots and explosions. Four Saudi security guards have been killed and 18 local consulate staff taken hostage by the attackers, earlier reports said.
The area has been cordoned off by security forces.
Violence has surged in the kingdom since last May, during which militants with alleged links to al-Qaida have staged several bombing attacks against western targets and dozens of foreigners have been killed.
Enditem Related:
3 gunmen killed in attack on US consulate in Jeddah: ministry
1 gunman killed in US consulate attack in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah
US consulate in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah under attack
US consulate in Jeddah attacked
US embassy confirms attack on consulate in Jeddah
A TV grab shows that black smoke was seen rising from the US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, Dec. 6, 2004. At least four Saudi national guards were killed by the gunmen who stormed the US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Monday. (Xinhua/AFP photo)
File photo taken on Sept. 12, 2004 shows the outside of US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. (Xinhua file photo)
Four Saudi guards killed at US consulate in Jeddah
RIYADH, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- At least four Saudi national guards were killed by the gunmen who stormed the US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Monday, the pan-Arab al-Jazeera TV reported.
Attackers who stormed the US consulate in Jeddah on Monday killed four Saudi guards and took 18 local staff hostage, security sources were quoted as saying.
Witnesses said Saudi security forces have broken into the compound and were chasing attackers.
A gunbattle raged inside, in the latest strike against Western targets in the kingdom, they said, adding four attackers remained inside the US consulate where a gunbattle ongoing was taking place more than an hour after the initial blast.
Earlier Monday, gunshots and explosions were heard and witnesses reported plumes of black smoke were seen rising from the area.
US Embassy spokeswoman Carol Kalin said in Riyadh that there were no reports of American casualties.
"We can confirm there has been an attack on the consulate,"Kalin said, adding "no reports of any American casualties. The incident is still in progress with Saudi emergency forces securing the compound."
It was not clear yet whether the attack was linked to Islamic militants bent on driving westerners out of the kingdom.
Violence has surged since last May, during which dozens of foreigners were attacked and several bombing attacks staged. Enditem
Three gunmen killed in attack on US consulate in Jeddah: interior ministry
RAYADH, Dec. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Three attackers were killed and two were injured and arrested by Saudi security forces when US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah came under attack Monday, the Interior Ministry announced.
The official Saudi Press Agency quoted a statement as saying that Saudi security forces engaged the attackers, "killing three aggressors, and two were captured after they were hit."
The statement said a "stray bunch", a reference to Islamic militants, threw explosives at the gate of the consulate then entered.
"The situation was brought under control," it added. Earlier the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV reported that at least one gunman was killed by Saudi security forces when US consulate in the Red Sea city of Jeddah came under attack Monday.
Another two attackers were arrested after they exchanged fire with security guards inside the US mission compound.
According to US Embassy spokesperson Carol Kalin, all US diplomats have been accounted for and there was no word on US casualties.
The attack started early Monday with gunshots and explosions. Four Saudi security guards have been killed and 18 local consulate staff taken hostage by the attackers, earlier reports said.
The area has been cordoned off by security forces.
Violence has surged in the kingdom since last May, during which militants with alleged links to al-Qaida have staged several bombing attacks against western targets and dozens of foreigners have been killed.
Enditem
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