Remembrance Day Attack in Jeddah

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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/breaking-jeddah-explosion-injuries-after-22991587

Four injured in 'cowardly attack' on Remembrance Day service in Saudi Arabia

Several people have reportedly been injured in a 'cowardly attack' at a Remembrance Day ceremony.

An explosion went off at the Non-Muslim Cemetery in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, today during a WW1 commemoration event. Brits were present at the ceremony, alongside consulate officials from France and other European nationes.

Local police are treating the attack as terror-related and officers have arrested a man over the incident.

A police source said: "It is being investigated as a terrorist attack against foreign dignitaries. Those present included British, French and Greek diplomats. There are numerous casualties."

The source said a grenade was thrown over a wall and into the cemetery, while France's foreign ministry said it was an improvised explosive device (IED) attack. Four people had been injured in the blast, including diplomats and Saudi guards, according to another source.

The attack happened when several diplomatic delegations from the European Union and other countries were present at a Remembrance Day event organised by the French embassy, a source told Reuters.

France's Foreign Ministry said: "The annual ceremony commemorating the end of World War I (https://www.france24.com/en/tag/armistice-day/) at the non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah, attended by several consulates, including that of France, was the target of an IED attack this morning, which injured several people. France strongly condemns this cowardly, unjustifiable attack."

A Greek government official said: "There was some sort of a blast at the non-Muslim cemetery in Jeddah. There are four slightly injured, among them one Greek.".....

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Another terrorist attack in Saudi, this time against the Dakar Rally. No indication if it is Iran or Yemen inspired or home grown against the regime.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/saudi-arabia-accused-of-covering-up-terrorist-attack-on-dakar-rally-kt0pbn9mh

Saudi Arabia ‘covered up’ terrorist attack on Dakar rally

French secret service agents are investigating claims that the Saudi Arabian authorities tried to cover up a terrorist attack that left a rally driver at risk of having his legs amputated.

Philippe Boutron, 61, was repatriated to France after suffering severe wounds to both legs when his car exploded ahead of the Dakar rally (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/extreme-risk-and-high-reward-explain-the-addictive-appeal-of-the-dakar-rally-tfpdnk879), a French-run motor sport event being held in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian interior ministry described the explosion as an accident but Sodicars Racing, Boutron’s team, said that he had fallen victim to a terrorist attack.

The French anti-terrorism prosecution office has announced an investigation amid claims that the incident had been swept under the carpet to avoid embarrassing the Saudi regime. The investigation will be carried out by the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure, the equivalent of MI5, prosecutors said.

Boutron was at the wheel of a support vehicle when it exploded as he drove to a technical inspection point in Jeddah last Thursday, two days before the start of the race. His legs were “burnt and torn”, Marie-France Estenave, Sodicars Racing’s press officer, said. “We are very afraid that doctors will have to amputate both legs.”

There were five passengers in the vehicle but all emerged unhurt. One of the passengers, Richard Gonzalez, the team’s chairman, said that there was an explosive device under the chassis. “I saw everything. It was a deliberate act, there’s no doubt about it.”…..

Following the explosion, the French foreign ministry issued a statement advising citizens to show “maximum vigilance” in Saudi Arabia, saying that there was terrorist threat.

In November 2020 three people were injured in an explosion at an Armistice Day ceremony organised by the French consulate in Jeddah. At the time there was speculation that the French were being targeted by extremists because of the country’s uncompromising stance on Islam in the name of its secular values.

The Dakar rally explosion has also led to criticism of ASO, the French sports group that organises the Dakar race and other events including the Tour de France. Detractors questioned its decision to start the rally despite the incident…..