SHOW: GOOD MORNING AMERICA (07:00 AM ET) - ABC December 07, 2004
Terror Attack Us Consulate In Jeddah
ROBIN ROBERTS
(Off Camera) An al Qaeda-linked group in -Saudi Arabia is claiming responsibility for the deadly attack on the US consulate in Jeddah. ABC's Brian Ross joins us now with more from Washington. Good morning, Brian.
graphics: al-qaeda claim
graphics: jeddah attack
BRIAN ROSS, ABC NEWS
(Off Camera) Good morning, Robin. The attack came five months after Saudi officials had claimed they had defeated al Qaeda.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) The smoke and fire over the compound wall were the first signs that America was under attack again. The five men hit just before noon at a side entrance of the consulate's heavily guarded 30 acre compound. US officials say they tried to plow their way into the compound by rear-ending a US staff car that had just been cleared for entry through the elaborate security barricade. The barricade went back up and the attackers then ran through the compound on foot throwing grenades and firing with automatic weapons. Saudi troops responded and the five non-US employees who were killed died in what turned into a drawn-out gun battle. Three of the attackers were killed and two were captured.
RICHARD ARMITAGE, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
It's quite clear that those terrorists who attacked our consulate in Jeddah had observed our procedures for some time.
BRIAN ROSS
(Voice Over) The US consulate in Jeddah has gone through two recent extensive security upgrades.
JOHN PIKE, DIRECTOR GLOBALSECURITY.ORG
A terrorist movement is like any other movement. It's like a bicycle. If it's not going forward, it's gonna fall over. In order to continue to recruit, to continue to raise money, they have to mount operations even if they're as desperate as this one.
BRIAN ROSS
(Off Camera) Today, officials here in Washington will try to figure out just how the terrorists were able to so easily breach security at a place that had been given two extensive and expensive security upgrades, Robin.
ROBIN ROBERTS
(Off Camera) Thank you, Brian. Brian Ross reporting from Washington this morning.
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