Saudi security forces 'allowed kidnappers to flee' [View All]

President George W. Bush delivers remarks to the press inside the Marine One hangar at the Bush Ranch in Crawford, Texas following his meeting with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Thursday, April 25, 2002. White House photo by Tina Hager.

Saudi security forces allowed some kidnappers in the bloody weekend attack on a residential compound to flee because they threatened to blow up the building, according to reports.

At least 22 people died in the attack, including a Briton whose body was dragged through the streets of the port city of al-Khobar.

One employee of the Oasis compound said today that a hostage heard the gunmen shouting that they would release their captives if the security forces let them go.

"The security forces refused at the beginning but then apparently relented," he said.

"There was a kind of a deal reached to let the hostages go free, though some hostages had already been killed." Nine hostages died after their throats were cut.

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