However, a visit to the Al-Hamra compound yesterday afternoon provided a glimpse of ambulances still racing to the site of the explosions followed by excavators. Though journalists at the scene were not allowed to enter the compound or take photographs, the indications were that the toll could rise if those still trapped inside the debris succumb to their injuries.

Among the injured Arab News spoke to Ralph, 44, who had come to King Fahd National Guard Hospital for treatment of facial injuries. Before responding to any question, the American national wanted to make sure that the journalists were not from Al-Jazeera TV channel.

Ralph, who retired from the US army to train the National Guard, said he would be leaving Riyadh tomorrow after a nine-month stay cutting short his one-year contract. Other inmates of the compound were also seen vacating the premises. It was not clear if they were leaving for good or moving to other locations. “I was sleeping in my villa when I was woken up by a loud explosion. I immediately got up and was about to put on my shoes when part of the wall came down on me, injuring my face. When I went outside, I saw some eight or nine bodies on the ground. The car had been blown to pieces and burned beyond recognition.”

Arab residents of the Al-Hamra compound described security there as “lousy.” But for some broken glass at the entrance to the Al-Hamra compound, there was no evidence of any resistance to the suicide bombers, who outnumbered and outgunned the security staff at the compound.

Speaking on the mobile phone from inside the compound, Anand, an Indian technician, said that besides the villas the bombers caused extensive damage to the recreation center. The villas were reduced to a heap of rubble.

At a media briefing, Dr. Mouaffag A. Al-Bayouk, medical director of Emergency Medical Services at the Saudi Red Crescent Society, explained how he was able to reach the accident site in seven minutes.

The SRCS, he said, deployed a fleet of 26 ambulances and 11 other vehicles from the Ministry of Health. These ambulances were spread out over three of the blast sites.