SAUDI ARABIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR JEDDAH US CONSULATE ATTACKER

A special criminal court in Riyadh sentenced to death a terrorist, who survived in the attack on the US consulate in Jeddah nine years ago. The court awarded jail terms, ranging from one and a half years to 23 years to other 19 convicts, in addition to a travel ban.
 Five terrorists attacked the consulate on Dec. 6, 2004, with explosives and machineguns, killing four security guards and five staff members. Security forces killed four of the attackers while the fifth one was arrested with injuries. The attackers had entered the compound in a consulate vehicle after lobbing explosives at the gate. 
The court issued verdicts against 20 accused who belonged to a 55-member terror cell. The court gave the death penalty to the terrorist, who is the sixth defendant. The charges against the convict include plotting and attacking the consulate together with other militants who were killed in a subsequent shootout with the security forces, taking hostage the consulate staff and visa applicants and robbing their valuables besides making them human shields.