Riyadh, Jun 02: FBI director Robert Mueller today said the Riyadh suicide bombings bore all the "hallmarks" of Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda terror group and praised the US-Saudi cooperation into the attacks probe. Mueller, who arrived in Saudi Arabia earlier in the day from Jordan, said he was in the gulf kingdom to praise Saudi officials for their support in the war on terror and the probe into the fatal may 12 attacks. The state department announced today a ninth American had died from injuries received in the late night bombings at three Riyadh residential compounds. No personal details were released at the family's request. "I think we assume that, yes, there are ties (in the attacks) to Al-Qaeda," Mueller said during a press conference in the Saudi capital late today. "I don't want to get into the details because the investigations are ongoing, but clearly this type of undertaking has all the hallmarks of an Al-Qaeda operation."

A US diplomat said Mueller planned to stay in Saudi Arabia through tomorrow. Moroccan officials in Rabat said the FBI chief is also expected to travel to Morocco within days for talks with King Mohammed VI.

When asked if a link has been established between the Saudi and Moroccan attacks, Mueller told reporters: "it's too early to say that right now."

Mueller would not disclose how many people have been arrested since the investigation into the attacks was launched, but said none of those in detention were thought to be on the FBI'S most wanted terrorist list.

Bureau Report