A Riyadh compound called Granada: An American ex-pat living in Riyadh during the Terrorist attacks 2002

At the Granada compound, the ground shook, and windows rattled. I woke. At first, I thought someone had crashed into the building next door. Quickly dressed, I waited in the darkness, scanning the area until I determined it was safe, then joined others gathered in the street. All faces were directed towards the smoke rising into the hazy, yellow-illuminated night. The smell of cordite lay heavily on the dusty air, and a strange stillness lay in the air as though the earth paused between breaths. Ambulance and police sirens woke up, shattering the quiet with their desperate and urgent echoes.After an attack, our once peaceful compound turned into a highly fortified camp with armed soldiers, razor wire, checkpoints, and tanks. Yet despite these measures, we were not immune to terrorist attacks as they continued to strike in our vicinity.Walkaboutdude follows up with a new account of his time working during one of the country's most critical periods during the terrorist attacks. Titled "A Riyadh Compound Called Granada," he witnessed the violence threatening citizens and expats each day.Read more