[Al Arabiya Latest] Three Saudi Arabian citizens were killed and three others wounded by unidentified gunmen on Monday while travelling in a car near Niger's border with Mali in West Africa, and Saudi King orders sending a plane to transport home their bodies."There are six victims, three dead and three wounded. They are all Saudi tourists," said Adamou, governor of the African country's Tillaberi region.
| Jihadi tourists, I imagine. What other reason can there be to wander through that part of the world if one isn't in the oil buisiness? |
The group was made up of six Saudi nationals and two Malians and was travelling to Mali.
Following reports of the attack, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz ordered sending a plane to bring the bodies of the victims. King Abdullah also announced a state of emergency in the Saudi embassy in Niger to ensure the safety of Saudi citizens in the African country.
"Niger's government deplores these barbarous acts that were unfortunately perpetrated on its territory, and offers its condolences to the Saudi government," he said.
The attack, near the village of Djambala, comes in a restive zone where Tuareg rebels and al-Qaeda cells are active.
In December 2008, a Canadian diplomat, Robert Fowler, his assistant and their driver were taken hostage by Qaeda operatives and were held until April.