Shot oil man 'victim of atrocity'

Michael Hamilton had a house in Rye, Sussex

An oil executive shot dead in a suspected al Qaida attack in Saudi Arabia was the victim of a cold-blooded atrocity, his wife has said.

Michael Hamilton, originally from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, was one of 22 killed in a militant attack when he was shot as he drove to work in Al Khobar.

The 61-year-old lived in Rye, Sussex, with his wife Penelope when in the UK.

After an inquest on Wednesday, which recorded a verdict of unlawful killing, his wife said he was a loving husband.

The inquest heard the father of two was shot nine times in the chest as he drove into the headquarters of Araba Petroleum Investments Corporation - the oil firm he had worked for since 1989.

The Islamic militants then tied his body to the back of a car and dragged it through the streets for over a mile.

The militants shot other workers inside the compound and fired at a minibus full of children, killing a 10-year-old Egyptian girl.

Vehicles were left riddled with bullets

Two other compounds were attacked on 29 May - one simultaneously and the other hours later.

In a statement read by family solicitor Philip Peacock, Mrs Hamilton said: "Michael was the victim of a cold-blooded atrocity.

"He was going about his business in Al Khobar when he was targeted by terrorists.

"He was kind and generous and he was dedicated to his work for an Arab company."

The inquest heard the Saudi authorities had concluded the attack was the work of al Qaida.

Suspects have been detained and questioned but no one has been found guilty.

East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze said: "Mr Hamilton's death was not just a tiny chapter in the war on terror, but the pointless gunning to death of someone's husband, relative and friend.

"He was a wholly innocent man who did nothing but try to help those for whom he worked."