It's for my own safety. Cornered at the city's little golf club, expats turned their backs. For the Saudi police, the inquiry into the bombings must be akin to investigating some closed religious sect. The confessions reassure Saudis that the authorities have quickly discovered who is behind the bombings. They also teach the expatriates that they are not gods who can do whatever they like.
Nobody knows what sparked the bombing campaign.
Only the first two incidents are definitely linked to alcohol smuggling. The second bomb, diplomatic sources said, exploded near an illegal pub. The rest, such as a small blast at a supermarket, may have been anti-Western copycat attacks or attempts to throw investigators off the trail. There are few solid facts. Mr Rodway, a technician in a hospital anaesthetics department, and the three accused appear to have known each other through the Celtic Corner.