State Department warns of terrorist plans to abduct Westerners in Saudi Arabia

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EMERGENCY MESSAGE FOR U.S. CITIZENS
September 28, 2011



The Embassy requests that wardens pass the following message in its entirety to members of the
U.S. citizen community:


U.S. Embassy in Riyadh advises U.S. citizens in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that we have
received information that a terrorist group in Saudi Arabia may be planning to abduct Westerners
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh reminds all U.S. citizens to exercise
prudence and enhanced security awareness at all times.

Regardless of where you are, it is always advisable to keep your security and situational
awareness levels high.

Please follow these good personal security practices:

Do not be time and place predictable. Vary your routes and times to and from work. Do not
frequent the same shops with regularity;

Know where you are going and have a plan of what to do in the event you encounter
demonstrations or violence;

Identify safe areas (for example police stations, hospitals, Saudi Government buildings) in
your area and how to get to them quickly;

Avoid crowds or large gatherings when traveling in public;

Tell co-workers or neighbors where you’re going and when you intend to return;

Minimize your profile while in public.

Always carry a cell phone and make sure you have emergency numbers pre-programmed into
your phone such as the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh (01-488-3800), U.S. Consulate General in
Dhahran (03-330-3200) and U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah (02-667-0080). The
emergency number for the Saudi Police, Fire, and Rescue is 999.

Be prepared to postpone or cancel activities for personal safety concerns.

Report all concerns you may experience to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulates
General in Dhahran and Jeddah.

U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the U.S. Department of State's, Bureau of
Consular Affairs website, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts,
and Country Specific Information can be found. The U.S. Embassy also encourages U.S.
citizens to review "A Safe Trip Abroad,” which includes valuable security information for those
both living and traveling abroad. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page
on Facebook as well. You can also download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel
information at your fingertips. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain
up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United
States and Canada, or outside the United States and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-
4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. Embassy Riyadh
Telephone: (966) (1) 488-3800
Fax: (966) (1) 483-0773.
No .14/2011
Earlier Messages to U.S. Citizens are available at http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/amcitmessages.html.
ACS Website: http://riyadh.usembassy.gov/service.html