This threat comes on the back of the Al-Qaeda murder of Lockheed Martin engineer Paul Johnson on 18 June. Johnson was kidnapped, used as a hostage and later beheaded.
In a statement US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, “Saudi authorities, as commendable as their overall effort is, have not yet been able to stop the terrorists to the point that everybody doesn’t have to worry anymore.”
“In the wake of the Al Qaeda execution of Lockheed Martin engineer Paul Johnson, Americans will not stay in Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom takes significant steps to protect them. [This] could have an effect on the Saudi oil industry,” added Boucher.
There are currently less than 30,000 Americans working in Saudi Arabia in the defence and oil sectors. It is believed more than 5,000 left last year and many more are estimated to leave this summer.
