The King of Saudi Arabia has warned that the West will be the next target of jihadists sweeping through Iraq and Syria, as it emerged that a Saudi diplomat kidnapped in Yemen had been killed by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
King Abdullah advised western powers to strike now to halt Islamic State (Isis) during an address to western ambassadors at the weekend.
“If we ignore them, I am certain that they will reach Europe in a month, and in another month, America,” the elderly monarch said.
Mounting Saudi concerns about the jihadist threat have increased after it emerged that diplomatic efforts to recover the kidnapped diplomat in Yemen, held by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsular (AQAP) had failed. Sheikh Mamoum Hatem, an AQAP cleric, announced on Twitter that Abdullah al-Khalidi, the Saudi deputy consul, had been “liquidated”.
If confirmed, the death would mark the first time a foreign kidnap victim in Yemen has been murdered by AQAP and raise fears for the safety of two British nationals being held in Yemen.
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A British oil worker was snatched by gunmen from his car in the capital, Sana’a, in February and a British dual-national has been missing after being seized from a supermarket last September. Their names have been withheld.
Al Arabiya television broadcast footage yesterday that it said showed the oil worker, who was blindfolded. “Please British or Yemen, help me get back to my family,” he said. “I have been captive for seven months and my situation is not good.”
Saudi Arabia has fiercely denied accusations that it funded or backed Islamic State, though the kingdom has funnelled weapons and cash to rebel groups in Syria. With up to 3,000 Saudis now fighting in Iraq and Syria, many with Islamic State, officials in Saudi Arabia are increasingly concerned about a terrorist backlash when these battle-hardened jihadists return home.
“Terrorism knows no border and its danger could affect several countries outside the Middle East. I ask you to transmit this message to your leaders — fight terrorism with force, reason and speed,” King Abdullah said.
AQAP reportedly demanded a $20 million (£12 million) ransom and the release of female prisoners in Saudi Arabia in exchange for Mr Khalidi’s freedom. Sheikh Hatem claimed that Mr Khalidi had been killed because Saudi Arabia had failed to meet their demands.