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Details on Saudi Arrests
From Arab News:The Kingdom has arrested a group of militants planning terrorist attacks against Saudi targets and seized large amounts of arms and explosives, it was announced yesterday. âA terrorist cell of 16 people was uncovered and arrested. Security forces were able to foil a terrorist plot planned against vital Saudi installations and targets,â an Interior Ministry official said. The arrests took place in Riyadh, in Al-Qasim north of Riyadh, and in the east of the country, where security forces searched hide-outs in farms, rest stops, and residential homes, the ministry official added. No mosques? A Western diplomatic source in Riyadh told Arab News last night that the arrests took place over the past three days, and that the Saudi security forces were able to pinpoint the terrorists and their location with the help of sophisticated satellite surveillance equipment, introduced since the May 12 bombing attacks in Riyadh. Humm, now I wonder who could be providing that? The source added that information received from Al-Qaeda suspects now in custody almost certainly facilitated the latest crackdown. WHACK! "Ouch, OK, Iâll talk!" Saudi Television, which broadcast the ministry officialâs statement, showed footage of automatic rifles, weapons, binoculars, mobile phones, surveillance cameras, bullet-proof vests, passports for several nationalities, forged identity cards, cars, motorcycles, audio tapes, computers as well as cash collection boxes. Saudi television also said the chemicals and weapons were found in Riyadh, in the Eastern Province and in Al-Qasim. âA number of bags filled with more than 20 tons of chemical substances to make explosives were found hidden underground,â the ministry official was quoted as saying. The ministry official did not give details about the latest planned targets but said security forces were still tracking down other suspects. Thatâs nice, weâre still waiting for trials and executions. This is the largest bust by Saudi security forces since they uncovered a 19-member terrorist cell in Riyadh on May 7 and seized large quantities of weapons and explosives. Saudi police have launched a nationwide crackdown on suspected militants following the May 12 suicide bombings of Western residential compounds in Riyadh that left 35 people dead, including several bombers. The Interior Ministry earlier announced that more than 128 suspected militants had been rounded up in the campaign which covered Makkah and Madinah. The crackdown also netted 538 kilograms (1,183 pounds) of plastic explosive, 131 grenades, 216 automatic rifles, 11 guns and a large quantity of ammunition. A number of militants, including leading suspected terrorist Turki Al-Dandani, were killed in clashes with police. Dandani was second in a list of 19 militants wanted by Saudi Arabia in connection with the Riyadh blasts blamed on the Al-Qaeda terror network. The mastermind, Ali Abdul Rahman Saeed Al-Faqaasi Al-Ghamdi, surrendered to Saudi authorities last month. Ten people on the list published by Riyadh remain at large. Saudi leaders have vowed to clamp down on suspected terrorists, their ideologists and supporters in a bid to rid the Kingdom of terrorism. Weâre watching. Posted by: Steve 2003-07-22 |
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