JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- A Saudi criminal court in Riyadh sentenced to death a terrorist who survived an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah nine years ago.
The court also handed down Sunday verdicts ranging from 18 months to 23 years to 19 others who belonged to a 55-member terror cell, the Saudi Gazette reported Monday.
Five terrorists used explosives and machine guns to attack the consulate Dec. 6, 2004, killing four security guards and five staff members. Security forces killed four attackers and injured the fifth, who was arrested. The attackers entered the compound in a consulate vehicle after throwing explosives at the gate.
The charges against the attacker and the other terrorist cell members included plotting and attacking the consulate, taking hostages and theft.
When the judge asked the surviving attacker what he was feeling when he carried out the assault, the accused said he committed the attack to show support for Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Gazette said.
