The deadly suicide bombing of a housing complex in the capital of Saudi Arabia appears to be the work of an al Qaeda terrorist cell intent on rattling the Saudi government, U.S. and Saudi authorities said yesterday. As the death toll from the Saturday night attack rose to 17, including five children, investigators pointed to similarities to three May 12 bombings in Riyadh and to warnings gathered from intelligence sources and al Qaeda Web sites. “I feel personally quite sure because this attack bears their hallmark,” said Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, who arrived in the Saudi capital and met with Crown Prince Abdullah. “My view is these al Qaeda terrorists . . . would prefer to have many such events.” The bombing of the upscale Muhaya compound follows several months of intensified anti-terrorist activity by Saudi security forces, who have arrested more than 600 suspects and seized significant amounts of explosives and weapons. There have been two armed confrontations in the past week alone. Full Story
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