Saudi Arabia has encountered a new Al Qaida splinter group said to have directed a series of bombing attacks against Western targets in the kingdom. The Islamic group is called Al Muwahidoun and led by Saudi insurgents who fought with Al Qaida against the United States in the war in Afghanistan in 2001. Islamic sources said the group recruited Saudi nationals who had fled Afghanistan and returned to the kingdom over the last 18 months. Al Muwahidoun is led by three Saudi nationals intent on establishing a group that would focus on Saudi Arabia. The Saudis were identified as Ali Bin Khadir Al-Khadir, Nasser Bin Hamad Al-Fahd and Ahmed Bin Hamoud Al-Khaldi. On Tuesday, the three placed their names on a communique issued by a new Islamic faction called Al-Mujahidoun Al Jazeera, or the "Holy Warriors of the [Arab] Peninsula." Saudi officials have acknowledged Al Muwahidoun and said this was one of a series of Al Qaida splinter groups that emerged over the last year. The officials said Al Muwahidoun is believed connected to the Al Qaida cell of 19 insurgents being sought by Saudi authorities and believed responsible for the suicide bombing attacks on Western residential complexes on early Tuesday. Officials said 15 insurgents were involved in the attacks.
| Don't know if it's an affiliate or just a work-alike. Since Qaeda did claim credit, I'd guess it's an affiliate or will be soon... |
|