SAUDI ARABIA: TERROR ATTACK ON OIL REFINERY FOILED

This is the second attempt to blow up Aramco's world's largest oil crude oil facility. It's obvious that the terrorist leadership has made accomplishing this task a real priority. Let's hope the Saudi govt. is up to the task as a successful attack would likely trigger panic in most major markets.

Riyadh, 29 March (AKI) - Saudi security forces have thwarted a terrorist attack on Saudi Arabia's largest oil refinery Abqaiq, the second in two months, according to media reports. The Kuwaiti news agency KUNA and the Iraqi Radio Nawa report that police discovered two car bombs in the area. Local daily al-Riyadh reports that Saudi police on Tuesday carried out house searches in the al-Mantar area of Abqaib, where some employees of Saudi oil giant Aramco live, arms and explosive were discovered in one of the homes and one man was arrested. Reports say that the vehicles to be used in the attack bore the company logo.

On 24 February Saudi Arabian security forces opened fire on at least two cars apparently commandeered by would-be suicide bombers, thwarting an attack on the Abqaiq oil processing plant in the east of the country. The cars exploded near gates leading to the facility, Saudi officials said.

The oil output at the plant, the largest of its kind in the world, was not affected by the incident, Saudi state television reported. The attack is the first directed at crude oil facilities since al-Qaeda militants launched a suicide bombing campaign against the Kingdom's pro-Western leaders in May 2003. Abqaiq handles about two-thirds of Saudi's petroleum output.