Saudi king warns of global terror threat

|By TAP Staff| King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia warned that terrorists will target the West if the world does not unite to confront them. King Abdullah made the statement during a presentation of credentials ceremony held in Jeddah yesterday for new ambassadors to Saudi Arabia, including U.S. Ambassador Joseph W. Westphal.

“If neglected I’m sure they [terrorists] will reach Europe in a month and America in another month,” said King Abdullah.

King Abdullah called on the ambassadors to convey to their governments the importance of a united pledge to confront terrorism. “The evils of terrorism must be fought with force, reason and speed,” he added.

King Abdullah also underlined the sanctity of human lives which terrorists ignore. “They even kill themselves,” said King Abdullah.

King Abdullah called for the establishment of an international centre to combat terrorism more than 10 years ago out of his firm belief that terrorism can be most effectively fought when nations work closely together in all areas. In 2005, Saudi Arabia hosted the Counter-Terrorism International Conference in Riyadh during which the proposal for the establishment of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center (UNCCT) was unanimously adopted.

King Abdullah pledged $10 million to the U.N. to establish the center and, in 2011, Saudi Arabia signed an agreement with the U.N. to launch the UNCCT. Earlier this month, King Abdullah provided the center with a donation of $100 million to enhance its capabilities and effectiveness in helping countries combat terrorism.