Youth Trying to Storm Al-Watan Office Shot Dead
Hassan Adawi, Arab News

JEDDAH, 19 March 2005 — Security officers shot dead a Saudi youth who tried to storm the headquarters of Al-Watan Arabic daily in the southern city of Abha ignoring warnings.

The man in his 20s was killed after he drove through the building’s exit gate ignoring three warning shots, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Mansour Al-Turki told Arab News.

The driver’s motives were not immediately clear. “He refused to stop, despite warnings from the police, even after they fired warning shots,” Al-Turki said. “He was very close to the building so they fired at the car. One bullet killed him,” he said.

This story, based on preliminary information, is interesting. It could become more interesting once the attacker’s motives are understood.

Al Watan newspaper has been the target of conservative anger, both social and religious. At one point, the paper was receiving almost daily bomb threats and reporters were getting death threats. The paper has not noticeably stepped back from its strong stand for religious moderation, but the threats had receded. Perhaps.

This story needs to be followed.