Security forces have arrested five suspected Al-Qaeda militants, including one foreigner, following a raid in Riyadh. The security forces also learned that the group was planning terrorist attacks in the Kingdom. The statement from the Interior Ministry carried by the Saudi Press Agency said: âFour nationals and one (foreign) resident were arrested during a raid on a hide-out in Riyadh.âThere was an improvised bomb-factory inside the hide-out. None of the five men were on a list of 36 most-wanted terrorists issued by the ministry last year. âDuring a search of their hide-out, the (security forces) confiscated... explosive materials in addition to electronic CDs and documents which prove that they are members of the deviant group,â the ministry said. The documents also indicated âcriminal plans to carry out destructive attacks inside the Kingdom,â the ministry said. The security forces also discovered âequipment to forge documents.â
Informed sources said police also confiscated more than SR1 million and 12 hand grenades from the Riyadh hideout after arresting the five.
On Monday, security sources said that police arrested at least four suspected militants in raids on different houses in the northeast Riyadh neighborhood of Al-Fahs Al-Dawry. Dozens of police cars backed by security forces filled the streets of the neighborhood which includes a number of male-only cafes and ga
In December, security forces killed Abdul Rahman Al-Miteb and Muhammad Abdul Rahman Al-Suwailemi, who were No. 4 and No. 7 respectively on the list of 36 most-wanted terrorists. According to Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, security forces have prevented 52 terror attacks in the country during the past three years.
Addressing the global terrorism conference in London on Monday, the prince said: âWe have killed 120 terrorists and our battle against the terrorists is continuing.â He estimated the number of terror suspects who have been arrested since Sept. 11, 2001, at more than 800. He said the Kingdom had also taken a series of measures to eliminate financial support for terrorism.