Bloody End to Hostage Crises in Saudi Arabia

40 Saudi commandos were deployed on Sunday to free the hostages.

While three terrorists used hostages as human-shield and successfully escaped, the group leader was caught.

The total death toll from the chain of four attacks that began on Saturday climbed to 29. The attackers killed twenty-two civilians, nine hostages and seven security guards. In addition, 25 were wounded.

According to a statement released by the Saudi government, the civilian dead, consisted of 8 Indians, 3 Philipinos, 3 Saudis, 2 Sri Lankans, 1 Swede, 1 South African, 1 Egyptian minor, 1 American, 1 British, and 1 Italian.

A Saudi diplomat disclosed that 9 were found dead in the building, where, for twenty-four hours, the assailants took refuge. A Jordanian hostage said they were shot while trying to escape.

The Turkish Embassy announced that no Turkish citizens were among the hostages.

In an account from Abu Hasim, an American hostage of Iraqi origin, the militants asked him if he were Muslim or Christian.

They said they would not kill Muslims. "Don’t be afraid. Even if you are an American, we will not kill Muslims."

Hasim added that the militants wanted to know where the Americans and other Westerners were living.