There are unconfirmed reports that at least 40 people were killed in an explosion which rocked a Riyadh residential compound tonight. The blast occurred at the Muhaya compound housing foreigners and Saudis. Earlier the Saudi health minister said up to 50 people had been injured. The explosion comes a day after the United States warned of terrorist attacks and shut its missions in Saudi Arabia.
"So far, there are 50 injured," Health Minister Mr Hamad binAbdullah al-Manei told Saudi state television. "They are in hospitals all overthe capital."
However, the Arabaic television network Al Arabiya has reported that up to 20 people have been killed and at least 100 injured.
"A huge explosion blew out the windows. I saw a lot ofpeople injured and I believe there a lot of people dead," Mr Bassemal-Hirani, an Arab resident of the Muhaya compound, told Al Arabiya.
The blast occurred shortly after midnight local time and could be heardacross the capital. Initial reports suggest up to three explosions hit the area
Security forces packed the area around the compound whilehelicopters flew overhead. One Western diplomat said a thinplume of smoke was seen rising from the compound, which islocated near the Riyadh diplomatic quarter.
The blast occurred nearly six months after triple suicidebombings at Riyadh housing compounds on May 12 killed 35 people,including nine Americans as well as other foreigners and Saudis.
Last night the United States issued its second securitywarning on Saudi Arabia in almost as many weeks, sayingterrorists were planning attacks in the kingdom. US missionswere shut in the kingdom on Saturday for a security review.
Britain said it had no plans "at present" to shut diplomaticoffices in the kingdom. But it said "the threat from terrorismis particularly serious at this time and that terrorists may bein the final phases of planning attacks in the kingdom".