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Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the failed attempt at
the largest fuel processing facility at Abqaiq where 2/3 of
Saudi's export is processed. Two suicide bombers in a car
tried to force their way into the facility but were shot
down by security gunmen. The al Qaeda notice on a website
said that they will "rid the Arabian Peninsular of the
infields." Although Saudi officials were at pain to point
out that production has not been affected, prices jumped by
10%. Some analysts believe that the attack was timed to
coincide with the pressure on Nigerian oil from terrorists
in that country and increased tensions with Iran. Eighth
largest oil producer Nigeria, has dropped production by 20%
and if economic sanctions are slapped on Iran over its
nuclear weapons program, the world oil supply will reduce
even further. There is increasing fear among strategists
that terrorists will target economic targets such as oil
refineries and ships. There is increased international
cooperation and awareness of these threats and countries are
investing in security and surveillance products to counter
such threat perceptions.
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