Dubai: Commandos today (May 30, 2004) ended a 25-hour hostage drama storming a luxury-housing complex in the Saudi Arabian oil city of al-Khobar, freeing over 50 people held captive by the militants who carried out twin attacks killing 22 persons including eight Indians.

While Lawrence Gregory Monice from Mangalore, Karnataka, one of the eight Indians, was killed in the cross-fire between Saudi security forces and the militants, the other Indian nationals were gunned down by the al-Qaeda operatives, sources in Saudi Arabia said.

The other Indians, mostly employees of Saudi maintenance company Saad Corporation and located in the Oasis Housing Complex, were identified as 45-year-old P K Pradeep Kumar (Kerala), J N Jose (Kerala), Charles Clethens Carlos, John Fernando (Goa), Suresh Kumar and J Ram (both from Rajasthan) and Vikram (Bihar), the sources said.

A statement issued by Saudi Interior Ministry said while three of the four al-Qaeda terrorists, who carried out the attacks, managed to escape, one of them was arrested in an injured condition.