Westerners Warned Over Saudi Terror Threat

Britain has revised its travel advice on Saudi Arabia for the second time in 24 hours, highlighting "credible" reports that terrorists are about to launch attacks on westerners.

The new advice comes after the US decided to close its Saudi embassy for two days in response to terror threats.

A notice on the Foreign Office and British embassy websites warned that terrorists in the kingdom were in the "final stages" of planning an attack.

The advice - updating a post from late yesterday which referred to attacks in the "near future" - said non-essential staff and dependants at UK missions in the country were being allowed to leave if they wished.

"There are credible reports that terrorists are in the final stages of planning attacks. There is a continuing high threat of terrorism in Saudi Arabia," the warning said.

"We continue to believe that terrorists are planning further attacks, including against westerners and places associated with westerners in Saudi Arabia."

The warning said individuals who chose to travel to, or remain in, Saudi Arabia should take "all necessary steps" to protect their safety, and should maintain a "high level" of vigilance. It said aviation interests remain a possible terrorist target.

Foreign Office officials 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 of the terrorism threat, while nationals inside the kingdom were urged to either 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, aiming to expel westerners from Islam's birthplace and destabilise the pro-western Saudi 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 of the attackers, were killed.

At least 91 foreign nationals and Saudi civilians have been killed in the violence, which has been blamed on al-Qaida and its allies.

On July 25, the US embassy warned Americans that militants were probably planning 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 their work or housing stations.

Americans in Saudi were reminded that terrorist groups had in the past targeted housing compounds and other establishments where westerners could be found.