U.S. Embassy, Consulates Temporarily Halt Services in Saudi Arabia Over Security Fears

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh said it was stopping consular services at the embassy and the two American consulates in Saudi Arabia both Sunday and Monday due to “heightened security concerns.”

Image via Twitter/U.S. Embassy in Riyadh)

In a message to U.S. citizens, the embassy said Saturday, “Due to heightened security concerns at U.S. diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy and consulates have canceled all consular services in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran for Sunday, March 15 and Monday, March 16, 2015.”

It also urged U.S. citizens to “take extra precautions” when traveling in Saudi Arabia.

A day earlier, the embassy warned U.S. citizens working in the oil industry that they could be targeted by terrorists.

“The U.S. Embassy has information stating that, as of early March, individuals associated with a terrorist organization could be targeting Western oil workers, possibly to include those U.S. citizens working for oil companies in the Eastern Province, for an attack(s) and/or kidnapping(s),” the embassy said in a statement Friday.

“There is no further information on the timing, target, location, or method of any planned attacks,” it added.