US shuts its Saudi mission for two days

The US embassy in Saudi Arabia said it had suspended consular services in the kingdom for two days due to “heightened security concerns”, after warning of threats against Western oil workers.

All services in Riyadh and at the consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran have been cancelled for Sunday and Monday the next two days, it said in a statement posted on its website on Saturday.

The embassy warned US citizens to take extra precautions and keep a low profile if they were out in public.

“All US citizens are encouraged to be aware of their surroundings, and take extra precautions when travelling throughout the country,” it said.

“The department of state urges US citizens to carefully consider the risks of travelling to Saudi Arabia and limit non-essential travel within the country.”

The embassy on Friday had warned that Western oil workers risked being attacked or kidnapped by “terrorist” groups. It did not identify the source of the threats and said no details were available on the planned attacks.