Fake Plastic News

The Observer has some grisly details of last weeks attack in Saudi Arabia. straight from the horse's mouth.

And Geostrategy-Direct (subscription only) tells of how the Saudi security "force" let them get away:

"ABU DHABI - Saudi commandos allowed Al Qaida insurgents to flee a foreign compound to halt the execution of Western hostages.
Saudi security sources confirmed that a National Guard special operations forces unit agreed to an offer by Al Qaida gunmen to end the execution of Western hostages in the Oasis compound in exchange for a safe exit. The sources said three of the four Al Qaida operatives managed to drive in a car for nearby Dammam.

The sources said about 40 Saudi commandos landed on the roof of the compound early on May 30 and engaged in a shootout with Al Qaida insurgents.

Within the first hour, two of the commandos were killed and eight were injured.

At that point, the sources said, the insurgents gathered Westerners into a room and threatened to blow up the building unless they were allowed to flee. The Saudi commando force, which had earlier blocked the entry of a carload of explosives, kept advancing.

The gunmen then began executing the hostages while repeating their offer. The sources said the commander of the Saudi force radioed his superior, who agreed to the offer to avoid the death of all the hostages. At least 16 hostages, most of them Westerners, were killed during the 24-hour ordeal.

"Our main priority was the hostages," a security source said.

On May 31, Saudi security forces surrounded a mosque in Khobar where the Al Qaida abductors were said to have been holed up. Witnesses said the insurgents were again allowed to escape. An Islamic preacher was arrested on suspicion of having harbored the insurgents.

Western diplomatic sources said the deal reached between Al Qaida and the commandos could explain the success of the insurgents to escape previous Saudi raids. The sources said Al Qaida insurgents have been repeatedly allowed to escape in most of the gun battles with security forces over the last two months.

Now, however, witnesses are providing new information that casts doubts on the reports by the Saudi Interior Ministry that only four Al Qaida insurgents were involved in the attack. Witnesses said that at least three of the gunmen escaped the Oasis compound more than two hours before the Saudi security forces raid on May 30.

In the aftermath of the hostage drama, the European Union has quietly decided to review its presence in Saudi Arabia.

European Union diplomats have decided to hold a series of meetings to discuss security measures needed to protect EU nationals in the kingdom. The meetings were decided on amid Al Qaida's campaign against Westerners and security forces in Saudi Arabia.

The first meeting by EU consuls and security personnel began on June 1 in Riyad. Diplomatic sources said the discussions would focus on measures to protect embassies and consulates as well as recommendations for EU nationals in the kingdom.

The second meeting will take place on June 6. This meeting will be headed by EU ambassadors, who intend to discuss security in a session at the Irish embassy in Riyad.

The security measures being discussed also include protecting EU diplomats who live in the so-called Diplomatic Quarter in Riyad, where most Western countries maintain diplomatic missions. The diplomatic sources said security has been increased significantly over the last few months amid repeated warnings of an Al Qaida strike.

Saudi authorities have responded to EU requests for increased security in the Diplomatic Quarter. The National Guard has employed additional officers and deployed checkpoints, concrete barriers and several armored personnel carriers to cover each entrance to the area.

The sources said each of the EU embassies has warned its nationals to increase their vigilance and review their need to remain in Saudi Arabia.