Fear factor in Riyadh

[seemslikeadream]

Some expats are leaving despite good pay and perks

Those remaining are arming themselves illegally, buying bullet-proof vests and fortifying their homes


Security guards are distrusted, with expats believing they are passing on information to terrorists


Embassies are issuing warnings to their citizens to leave



'No one has confidence in standard security any longer because their track record is so poor,' he said.

The city has been on the edge since one of the worst attacks two weeks ago when Al-Qaeda gunmen, trying to 'cleanse' the country of non-Muslims, took scores of hostages and killed 22 people - all foreign workers - during a 25-hour rampage through a business complex and a residential compound in the oil city of Khobar.

Three of the attackers escaped, apparently let slip by security forces in return for the lives of a further 40 hostages.

The fear factor was driven up barely a week ago when a BBC cameraman was shot and killed while filming for a report about fear among expats in the kingdom after the hostage-taking and other attacks.

Anti-terrorist detectives from Scotland Yard have flown to Saudi Arabia to investigate the shooting of Mr Simon Cumbers, 36, and his colleague, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner, 42, who was critically injured in the incident.

The Telegraph of London reported that the minder and driver who accompanied Mr Gardner and Mr Cumbers had been arrested as investigators probed the theory that the two had tipped off the attackers.

Though demand for private security guards has risen, there are concerns about their reliability.

more
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/world/story/0,4386,256103,00.html

[robertpaulsen]

1. Joe Rogan's hosting in Saudi Arabia?

I hope he gets kidnapped and force-fed insects and intestinal tracts.

[seemslikeadream]

2. Joe Rogan - took me a minute - I've never seen fear factor - Is this him

Is this him?

[robertpaulsen]

3. Holy shit what a pic!

Yeah, that's him groping the brunette.

[daleo]

4. I wondered if this was an inside job

"The Telegraph of London reported that the minder and driver who accompanied Mr Gardner and Mr Cumbers had been arrested as investigators probed the theory that the two had tipped off the attackers."

That doesn't prove anything, of course.

I suppose if they offer enough money, somebody will always take the gamble. But the best engineers, geologists, etc. may decide it is not worth it.