Incident Summary:

05/12/2003: In a series of nearly simultaneous attacks, suicide bombers blew themselves in a truck loaded with explosives in a complex housing staff working for US defense firm Vinnell in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At least eight Americans were killed in the incident. Al-Qaida was suspected responsible for the incident. This was one of three attacks, involving at least nine suicide bombers and suspected to have involved nineteen perpetrators overall.

GTD ID:
200305120008

When:
2003-05-12

Country:
Saudi Arabia

Region:
Middle East & North Africa

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Riyadh

City:
Riyadh

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Business
Name of Entity Civilians
Specific Description Indiscriminate civilians at a complex housing staff working for the U.S. defense firm Vinnell in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Nationality of Target Multinational
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Vehicle
Weapon Details
A truck loaded with explosives, most likely of the RDX type, was used in this incident.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?Yes
Part of Multiple Incident?Yes
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information This was one of four related attacks (cf. 200305120006-09). The total number of casualties was not clear, but there were an estimated 34 dead in the three housing complex attacks and the casualty figures have been distributed evenly across these cases in order to preserve the statistical accuracy of the database. Among the dead were at least eight Americans, seven Saudis, two Jordanians, two Filipinos, an Australian, a Swiss and one Lebanese. Nine bodies were believed to be those of terrorists, but it was feared some attackers escaped. Including the nine suicide bombers, Saudi Authorities suspected 19 individuals of organizing the attacks, citing a link between this attack and a gunfight between police and 19 al-Qa'ida operatives on May 6th.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Al-Qaida in Saudi Arabia (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators Unknown
Number of Captured Perpetrators Unknown
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 11 Fatalities
Total Number of Fatalities 11
Number of U.S. Fatalities 8
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 3
Total Number of Injured Unknown
Number of U.S. Injured Unknown
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
George Edmonson, "Saudis promise to hunt bombers," The Atlanta Constitution Journal, May 15, 2003.
"Shots fired before 'massive blast'," The Australian, May 14, 2003.
"Riyadh reports 34 killed in suicide bombings," Agence France Presse, May 14, 2003.