Late on May, 12, 2002, while much of Riyadh city was asleep, four cars rigged with explosives attacked 3 western housing complexes (Commonly known as Compounds). Dorrat Al Jadawal, Vinnel, and Al-Hamra Oasis Compound.

            I lived in Al-Hamra.

            There I was lying in bed trying to fall asleep after cramming for a Biology final, when a thudding sound hit my ears and suddenly a violent shake took over our house. Windows shattered, car alarms went off, screams and cry’s started to spread perpetually from one house to the next.

            A million things were flying through my mind. Non of which included terrorist attack.

            My parents rushed me and my three brothers into the pantry room, and I helped try to calm down my younger brothers who were screaming uncontrollably. As scared as I was I hid it from them reassuring them that everything is fine, and we will be alright.

            My father’s cell phone rang and it was one of our neighbors who told him our compound is under attack and we should stay in our house and lock the doors.

            There were no doors. The explosion threw them of their hinges and I had to bring that unfortunate news back to the pantry.

            Eventually all one can hear were the sirens from police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and the endless ringing of the phones. And then there was quite for a very long time.

            School was cancelled, but the kids weren’t thrilled. Some of their teachers and friends lost their lives in the bombings and the over all mood of the western community of Saudi Arabia was solemn.

            That night changed my life.

            I lost a friend on another compound, and survived a bombing. Something I never thought I’d experience.

            For one thing it made me realize the fragility of life. How if the terrorists would have detonated a little deeper into the compound there was a much higher probability I would be missing an arm or a leg or even worse a family member. Or what if I was by the door that blew of its hinges or the windows that shattered? What if one of my little brothers were?

            Thankfully, those were just thoughts not realities. And I survived the entire thing.

            Lauren Guerra, 20, was a resident of Jadawal compound and recalls the “most frightening night of her life.”

            “My mom came rushing into my room screaming that the compound is being attacked,” Guerra said in an email interview. “I remember running to get my sister and stepping on a nail that was on the floor after the doors exploded. But I didn’t even feel the pain, all I felt was fear.”

            Moniera Habollah, 20, who lived on Al-Hamra Compound, perhaps has the most interesting story to tell that night.

            “I went out with my dad to get Starbucks because I had a huge exam to study for the next day,” she said in an email interview. “On the drive he noticed a car following us from the moment we left the compound, so he sped up to try to lose it. Next thing we know shots were being fired at our car and my dad told me to duck as he tried to escape.”

            Habollah’s father’s attempt to escape did not work so he made a quick U-turn and headed back to the compound. The terrorists tail-gaited him the entire way there and when they got to the compound they shot and killed the security officers guarding the compound.
           
            “They went in and we lost them in the compound but soon the explosion happened, and although we were pretty far by then we both got injured,” Habollah said.

            Not too many in America heard about these explosions or were necessarily affected by them.

            Yet Hollywood has taken it upon it self to make an action movie fueled by the May 12, terrorist attacks in Riyadh titled “The Kingdom”.

            “The movie does no justice for the real attacks and is a misrepresentation of the entire thing,” said Guerra. “They should be ashamed of themselves,” she added.

Overall, this experience has left a lasting impression on me about terrorism, and has forever changed my outlook on life, to one of appreciation and cherishment from one of passiveness and naivety.

Slideshow Album

Supplementary Videos:

This video is about terrorism in general in Saudi Arabia. It contains footage of the compound bombs as well as many other terrorist attacks in the Kingdom.

This Video has first, a conversation with former ambassador to Saudi Arabia Richard Murphy, and CNN correspondent David Ensor, about the suicide bombings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and al-Qaeda's claiming responsibility. Then, a conversation with ambassadors Frank Wisner of the U.S., and Javad Zarif of Iran about the reconstruction in Iraq and terrorism in the Middle East.