Attacks on UK citizens and interests abroad
Key points
- UK citizens and interests at risk of terrorist attacks abroad
- Global risk of indiscriminate terrorist violence against Western targets
The UK has long-standing commercial, political and military links with many countries in the Muslim world. Our involvement in the region is strongly opposed by Al Qaida and other extremist groups. This has resulted in British interests and citizens abroad repeatedly being targeted by international terrorists.
Aftermath of terrorist attack on the British Consulate in Istanbul, November 2003
© Lynsey Addario
A number of significant terrorist attacks have been carried out or attempted against British targets in the Mediterranean and Middle East region over the last five years:
- June 2002
A planned terrorist attack on US and UK naval ships in the Straits of Gibraltar was thwarted.
- November 2003
Al Qaida suicide bombers carried out attacks against the British Consulate and HSBC building in Istanbul, Turkey, killing 27 people including three British citizens.
- June 2004
A BBC news crew was attacked by Al Qaida gunmen in Riyadh, killing the cameraman and severely injuring the reporter.
- September 2004
A British national living in Saudi Arabia was shot and killed in a Riyadh shopping centre by Al Qaida gunmen.
- October 2004
British engineer Kenneth Bigley was murdered by the Al Qaida in Iraq (AQI) group.
- March 2005
A British teacher was killed in a car bomb explosion in Doha, Qatar.
In addition, terrorists have targeted Westerners in general on a number of occasions, most notably in the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005. 24 British people were killed in the first Bali bombing, along with another 178 people of various nationalities.
