Saudi expats' shock at beheading

Tighter security is now a fact of daily Saudi life

The beheading of US hostage Paul Johnson by al-Qaeda militants has shocked foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, already anxious about the increasing attacks.

US citizen "Jayne", who has written occasional articles for BBC News Online about life in the kingdom, tells of her deep sorrow at Mr Johnson's death and says the violence is not only affecting expats but ordinary Saudis too:

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My husband always turns on BBC radio upon rising. When he woke me this morning, his face was crumpled with grief, and I knew without being told that Paul Johnson was dead.

Most Westerners in Riyadh felt Paul was doomed from the moment he was kidnapped. Because he was American, and his captors hated all Americans, he would be the victim of a beheading ritual drawn from the darkest times in human history.

At the office, my Western colleagues were silent. Everyone had heard the news, and no-one wanted to be the first to talk about it.

When the subject was broached, the words came like a deluge: 'Gruesome, Horrendous. Heartbreaking, after his son and sister pleaded for his life.' 'The people who did this aren't even human!'

My Saudi colleagues wouldn't speak about it at all. But their goodwill, their sympathy and their determined kindness spoke for them.

Few Westerners are leaving because of this incident, but we all realise the carefree times are past. To ensure our safety we must take extraordinary measures. People who are bothered by that thought will no doubt leave.

If we 'hang together' and help each other, we may still be safer here than in most large American cities.

The local people are deeply affected as well, because Saudis and other Muslims, including children, have been killed in these attacks.

Families are drawing together to fight the fear. One young Saudi man employed in Riyadh, away from his home village, whispered to me: 'We're all afraid! I have to phone my parents three times weekly to assure them that I'm okay!'

Expats in Saudi Part Two: Behind the veil

Expats in Saudi Part One: Fear on the streets