Westerners Warned Over Threat to Saudi Arabia

Britain has revised its travel advice for Saudi Arabia to highlight "credible" reports that terrorists are planning attacks on westerners, after the US embassy decided to close for two days in response to terror threats.

A notice on the Foreign Office and British embassy's websites warned of a continuing "high threat" of terrorism in the kingdom.

The advice, posted late yesterday, said nonessential staff and dependants at UK missions in the country are being allowed to leave if they wished.

"There are credible reports that terrorists are planning further attacks in the near future. There is a continuing high threat of terrorism in Saudi Arabia," the warning stated. "We continue to believe that terrorists are planning further attacks, including against westerners and places associated with westerners in Saudi Arabia."

It cautions that individuals who choose to travel to, or remain in, Saudi Arabia should take "all necessary steps" to protect their safety and maintain a "high level" of vigilance. Aviation interests remain a possible terrorist target, it warns.

The Foreign Office in London said the reference to credible reports about terrorists planning new attacks was a response to yesterday's move by the US in response to threats against its buildings.

Australia's department of foreign affairs and trade also warned its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia because terrorists were planning attacks there, while nationals inside the kingdom were urged to depart or exercise extreme caution.

"We have received credible reports that terrorists are planning attacks in Saudi Arabia in the near future," the department said on its website. Militants have waged a bombing campaign in the kingdom since 2003 to expel westerners from Islam's birthplace and destabilise the pro-western royal family.

Suicide bombers have hit several compounds housing foreigners. Last December militants staged a daylight raid on the US consulate in Jeddah, in which eight people, including some attackers, were killed. At least 91 foreign nationals and Saudi civilians have been killed in the violence. The attacks have been blamed on al-Qaida and its allies.

The US embassy warned Americans on July 25 that militants were probably plotting new attacks in the kingdom. It said US military personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia had been instructed to suspend all off-duty leisure travel outside of their work or housing stations.

Americans in Saudi Arabia were urged to keep "a high level of vigilance", and reminded them that terrorist groups in the past have targeted housing compounds and other establishments where westerners may be located.