Saudi Arabia: Deadly armed robbery in Eastern Province April 28

Event

An investigation is currently ongoing following an armed attack at a café that resulted in the death of one individual and the abduction of another in the city of Saihat (Eastern Province) on Friday, April 28. The kidnapped individual, identified as a Saudi policeman, was confirmed dead the next day. According to police reports, five masked men armed with machine guns launched the attack. Officials are investigating the motive of the attack and whether it could be terror related; it is unclear if the group deliberately targeted the police.

Context

The sociopolitical situation remains tense in Eastern Province. Since 2011, Saudi Shi'ite Muslims have staged numerous demonstrations against what they see as their systematic economical marginalization by the central government. Localized sporadic unrest is fairly common in the east of the country. Sporadic clashes between gunmen and security forces have occurred near Al-Qatif and Al-Dammam.

Crime rates in Saudi Arabia are relatively low in general, though some isolated cases involving criminal activity are reported.

Advice

Given the prevailing terrorist risk in Saudi Arabia, those present in the country are advised to exercise caution at all times, to keep a low profile, and to avoid public places lacking adequate security measures or locations deemed particularly likely to be targeted in the event of an attack (e.g., official buildings, military zones, etc.). Report all suspicious objects or behavior to authorities.

As a reminder, the majority of Western governments advise their nationals against travel to Saudi Arabia's southern provinces as well as areas near the Iraqi border. US authorities have specifically restricted American government personnel and their families from traveling within 80 km (50 mi) of the Yemeni border as well as to the cities of Jizan and Najran without authorization. Due to the risk of sporadic outbreaks of violence, the American government also prohibits its personnel from traveling to Al-Qatif and surrounding suburbs as well as to Hofuf and surrounding suburbs (Eastern province). Travelers are advised to take the above restrictions into consideration.