Swiss-based ABB Lummus Global on 2 May began pulling its staff out of the industrial city of Yanbu, following the attack the previous day on a petrochemicals complex being upgraded by the company, in which five employees were killed. Two Britons, two Americans and an Australian died when gunmen opened fire at Yanbu Petrochemical Company (Yanpet) complex. Three of the attackers worked at the facility and used security passes to gain entry. Eyewitnesses reported that one of those killed was dragged through the streets tied to the back of a car, although the Saudi Press Agency denied the claims.
The attack is the first by militants on an economic target in the kingdom - a development that has long been feared by Riyadh, which has tightened security at oil installations since the upsurge in Islamist violence following the 11 September terrorist attacks and the US invasion of Iraq. Saudi Aramco said that measures have further strengthened after the Yanbu attack. In mid-April, the US took the unusual step of ordering all nonessential diplomatic staff and their families to leave the kingdom, citing intelligence suggesting imminent attacks. Days later, the security services' headquarters in Riyadh was hit by a car bomb attack.
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