Mohammed Alkhereiji, Arab News Staff

JEDDAH, 7 October 2003 — The US Embassy in Saudi Arabia yesterday issued a warning that “known terrorist operatives” have been taking note of areas often visited by Westerners in the Kingdom and urged Americans to be more vigilant about their security.

“Recent information has come to the embassy’s attention that known terrorist operatives in Saudi Arabia have reference material identifying popular trails and campsites in Saudi Arabia often used by Westerners,” the embassy said in an advisory posted on its website.

“It is unknown if this information is linked to any ongoing operational planning by these terrorists,” it added, without giving further details.

Saudi Arabia has intensified a crackdown on terrorists following the May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh that left 35 people dead.

Since the bombings, there have been several bloody clashes between security forces and militants and more than 200 people have been arrested.

Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said last week authorities had arrested more than 500 “suspected terrorists” since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

“The latest warning is very scary,” Michael Burns, 34, an American living in the Kingdom, told Arab News.

“I was at a business function today that was mostly Western expatriates, and it’s unnerving thinking that this place could be a target.”

But Bill Graston, 37, a US civil engineer in Jeddah, has become desensitized to such warnings: “This is nothing new; life goes on,” he said.

The British Embassy’s press officer Nick Abbot said such warnings should be taken seriously. “We are consistently advising people to be cautious. We believe there might still be a possible threat,” he said.