Gunmen in Jeddah attack claimed to be 'Al-Fallujah Brigade': Saudi official

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (AFP) - The five gunmen who carried out Monday's attack on the US consulate in the Saudi port of Jeddah claimed to be members of an "Al-Fallujah Brigade," a Saudi official here said.
Adel Al-Jubeir, foreign affairs advisor to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, told reporters that the gunmen made the claim in a call to the authorities shortly after attacking the consulate.
"This is the Al-Fallujah Brigade we are in the American embassy. We have 15 hostages. Tell the security forces not to enter the embassy. We have 17 hostages," he quoted the caller as saying.
Al-Jubeir said the caller mentioned both 15 and 17 hostages. In fact, no hostages were taken during the attack according to Saudi and US officials.
The Iraqi city of Fallujah was recently the scene of heavy fighting between US Marines and Iraqi insurgents.
Al-Jubeir said three of the gunmen involved in Monday's attack were killed while two were wounded and captured. They are suspected to be members of Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda.
Two Saudi national guardsmen were wounded.
Al-Jubeir also gave the nationalities of the four consular staff and private security guard who died in the attack saying they were a Saudi, an Egyptian, a Yemeni, a Pakistani and an Indian.

12/06/2004 20:20 GMT - AFP