Members of the cell are facing several charges, all related to terrorism. The first of the charges leveled against the cell, and which amount to around 97 charges, is its affiliation to al-Qaeda and following direct instructions from the group's leader, Ayman al-
Zawahiri... Second in command of al-Qaeda, occasionally described as
the real brainsof the outfit. Formerly the Mister Big of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Bumped off Abdullah Azzam with a car boom in the course of one of their little disputes. Is thought to have composed bin Laden's
fatwaentitled
World Islamic Front Against Jews and Crusaders.Currently residing in the North Wazoo area. That is not a horn growing from the middle of his forehead, but a prayer bump, attesting to how devout he is...
; it is also charged for links to al-Qaeda's affiliates in Syria.
According to the official front man of the Saudi Ministry of Justice, Abdullah al-Saadan, the prosecution directed several charges at the defendants, including planning a series of terrorist attacks inside Soddy Arabia and targeting oil wells with mortars.
They are also charged with planning to assassinate a prominent Shiite holy man with the aim of creating sectarian sedition in the country and distracting the authorities from the hunt for al-Qaeda operatives.
The accused, according to court records, were planning to kill the holy man, who is from the eastern province, by firing on his car or by poisoning him with cyanide. Members of the cell were reportedly brainwashed by an al-Qaeda operative in Syria, Abu Walid, who convinced them that the holy man supports Shiite militias in Iraq who are using violence against Sunnis.
Members of the group were also accused of planning to set up a training camp at which recruits were taught how to use hand grenades and other weapons. They were also charged with forming an army and recruiting youth and taking them to Iraq to take part in operations carried out by the Islamic Army in that country.
Another charge relates to covering up for a man who was prepared to sell chemical substances to al-Qaeda and who headed a cell that collected money to fund terrorist operations in Syria and Iraq. This charge was specifically leveled at defendant number one.
Defendant number two is accused of collecting 1.1 million riyals ($293,000) from supporters of al-Qaeda; the funds were to be sent to Syria. He is believed to have collaborated with Yemeni gangs involved in the sale and trafficking of weapons to Soddy Arabia, from whom he brought arms and weapons for use in the kingdom. He was also planning to travel to Sudan with two al-Qaeda operatives to receive training.
The defendants are also accused of funding a TV channel that incites violence and promotes terrorist activities, and were charged with the illegal possession of weapons, most of which were purchased from Yemen.
The court session was attended by lawyers representing several of the defendants; some of the defendants chose to represent themselves. A representative of the Human Rights Association was also in court, but members of the press were not allowed to attend the proceedings.
The court presented defendants number four, five, 15, and 16 with their documented confessions, which, barring a few exceptions, they acknowledged. Another session is expected to be held shortly at which the judge will listen to the defense of all 17 members of the cell.