DHAHRAN (Saudi Arabia), Feb 24: Saudi security forces on Friday foiled a terrorist attack on the world’s largest oil facility in Abqaiq, some 35 miles from Dhahran. The forces fired at two cars trying to storm the oil processing centre and detonated the explosives in the vehicles.
Dubai-based television station Al-Arabiya said the forces had killed the suicide bombers in the two cars bearing the logo of Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco. It was not clear if the attackers were Aramco employees or outsiders.
Oil prices jumped $2 a barrel on the news of the attack in the world’s largest oil exporter.
The security forces had signalled two cars to stop. When one of the cars continued to move, they opened fire and detonated the car.
They also fired at another car with explosives, which had attempted to get in through the main security check.
According to some security experts, terrorists in the three cars armed with explosives tried to break into the premises firing on the security apparatus as they rammed into the outer gates of the facility.
The three cars exploded by the firing of security guards at the gates 1.5km (miles) from the main entrance to Abqaiq. “Three cars rammed into the first of the three sets of gates protecting Abqaiq and when security fired at them, they exploded,” security expert Nawaf Obaid told Reuters.
“The attack was stopped at the first security cordon. The cars were not able to get into the refinery. No blast occurred within the plant perimeter,” another security source added.
Earlier, witnesses told reporters about explosions and firing around the plant on Friday at around noon. It was a weekend here and most of the people were away to say Friday prayers.
As a result of the explosion, a unit of the plants, often described as the nerve centre of global oil markets, was damaged.
A pipeline also caught fire that was controlled within a few hours of the incident. However, after a brief stoppage, oil flow through the complex was reportedly resumed.
