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02-24-2006, 12:51 PM
Foiled attack proves solid Saudi oil security-experts
24 Feb 2006 17:04:25 GMT

Source: Reuters

By Ghaida Ghantous

DUBAI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's success in foiling a suicide attack on a vital oil facility on Friday shows the kingdom's security measures are solid enough to protect supplies from the world's top oil exporter, analysts said.

At least two cars exploded 1.5 kilometres (about one mile) from the main entrance of Abqaiq facility when security forces fired on suicide bombers trying to storm the world's biggest processing plant.

Oil prices jumped more than $2 after the attack. The prospect of an al Qaeda attack on Saudi Arabia is a concern for oil consumer nations as the kingdom accounts for around a sixth of the world's exports, supplying 7.5 million barrels a day.

"The events of today are another indication of how tight and impenetrable the existing Saudi security system is at main petroleum infrastructure around the country," Saudi security and oil adviser Nawaf Obaid told Reuters.

"To have a successful attack at such a facility is very remote," he said, adding that the operation was a "desperate mission" because there was no way they could hit their target.

It was the first direct militant strike against crude oil facilities since al Qaeda militants launched a campaign of suicide bombings aimed at toppling the kingdom's pro-Western leaders in May 2003. It came a year after al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden urged supporters to hit oil targets in the Gulf.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said oil and gas production was unaffected by what he described as a "terrorist attempt", adding that exports from Abqaiq plant were running normally.

State oil firm Saudi Aramco declined to comment further about the incident but reiterated that it has solid security measures in place. Security forces use helicopters and patrol boats in addition to fences, cameras and motion detectors.

Aramco has said it has backup systems in place and the operational flexibility to ensure that the kingdom could continue to produce oil and gas without interruption, even if an entire facility was taken offline, for whatever reason.

QAEDA WEAKENED

"The security measures at the oil facilities are better than those at the royal palaces," said Fares bin Houzam, an expert on al Qaeda. "There is no danger to other facilities."

Obaid and Houzam both said the attempted attack was proof al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia has been weakened by a state crackdown.

Kevin Rosser of the UK-based Control Risks Group said that while it was disturbing that militants could still take a plot to such an advanced stage, the operation was "reckless" from a strategic point of view in al Qaeda's efforts to win over Saudi public opinion because oil is the lifeline of the Saudi economy.

"It shows that as the group fragmented under the relentless pressure of the security crackdown, there has been evident loss of strategic and tactical skill," he said.

"Obviously it is disturbing that another attack happened but the fact that it was thwarted shows that Saudi Arabia's efforts to take security seriously have born some fruit."

Rosser said that an attack was long anticipated at the Abqaiq facility and the fact that it was halted at a long distance from the intended target "demonstrates that security measures put in place over the years are effective."

Most Saudi oil is exported from the Gulf via the huge producing, pumping and processing facility at Abqaiq, also known locally as Baqiq, in the kingdom's mainly Shi'ite Eastern Province. The plant handles about two thirds of Saudi output. (Additional reporting by Miral Fahmy)