saudi arabia's relations with the west began to cause growing concern among some of the ulema and students of sharia law and was one of the issues that led to an increase in islamist terrorism in saudi arabia, as well as islamist terrorist attacks in western countries by saudi nationals. osama bin laden was a saudi citizen (until stripped of his citizenship in 1994) and was responsible for the 1998 u.s. embassy bombings in east africa and the 2000 uss cole bombing near the port of aden, yemen. 15 of the 19 terrorists involved in september 11 attacks in new york city, washington, d.c., and near shanksville, pennsylvania were saudi nationals. many saudis who did not support the islamist terrorists were nevertheless deeply unhappy with the government's policies.