Saudi Officials Investigate Shooting Story aired: Monday, May 31, 2004
In the Saudi Arabian city of Khobar, cars are crawling through checkpoints, trunks searched, identity cards checked, as a massive manhunt continues for 3 of the 4 gunmen in this weekend's killing spree at an office building and residential compound housing mostly foreign oil workers.
Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for that attack that killed 22 people.
Thirteen people were killed Saturday morning in the initial assault, including one oil executive, whose body was tied to a car and dragged for a mile before the gunmen returned and rounded up more than 50 hostages and held them in the top floor of an apartment complex. Nine of the hostages who tried to escape had their throats slit.
Saudi Special Forces entered the building 25 hours after the assault began. The leader of the attackers is reportedly in custody; his three accomplices disappeared in rush hour traffic.
Already, the attack is having an effect on the world's oil markets, and on the ex-patriot community in Saudi Arabia.
Guests:
Walid khadduri, editor-in-chief of the Middle East Economic Survey.
