Saudi Arabia arrests 40 suspected militants
RIYADH, March 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it had arrested 40 suspected militants, including eight who were linked to al Qaeda's attack on the world's largest oil processing plant last month.
Security forces also seized a cache of explosives and firearms in simultaneous raids in several parts of the kingdom, an interior ministry spokesman said.
There has been a spate of attacks in Saudi Arabia and last month the authorities foiled an al Qaeda attack on Abqaiq, the world's biggest oil processing plant, in which two militants were killed.
"The security forces have arrested eight who are directly linked to that cell (Abqaiq)," a ministry statement said, adding that it would not identify the suspects arrested.
The security services also seized more than 100 grenades and dozens of assault rifles, the spokesman said. He was unable to say if the suspects had been planning new attacks.
"The arrests were made over the last week or so," he said.
"Some of them were related to publishing the terrorists' ideas on the Internet ... others were providing assistance, hideouts and financing to terrorists," the spokesman told Reuters.
Saudi television aired footage of the cache showing hand grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, and various firearms.
The arrests were made in several areas of the country, including Eastern province, the capital Riyadh and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, he added.
Officials say about 144 foreigners and Saudis, including security forces, and 120 militants have died in attacks and clashes with police since May 2003, when al Qaeda suicide bombers hit three Western housing compounds in Riyadh.
Security forces also seized a cache of explosives and firearms in simultaneous raids in several parts of the kingdom, an interior ministry spokesman said.
There has been a spate of attacks in Saudi Arabia and last month the authorities foiled an al Qaeda attack on Abqaiq, the world's biggest oil processing plant, in which two militants were killed.
"The security forces have arrested eight who are directly linked to that cell (Abqaiq)," a ministry statement said, adding that it would not identify the suspects arrested.
The security services also seized more than 100 grenades and dozens of assault rifles, the spokesman said. He was unable to say if the suspects had been planning new attacks.
"The arrests were made over the last week or so," he said.
"Some of them were related to publishing the terrorists' ideas on the Internet ... others were providing assistance, hideouts and financing to terrorists," the spokesman told Reuters.
Saudi television aired footage of the cache showing hand grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, and various firearms.
The arrests were made in several areas of the country, including Eastern province, the capital Riyadh and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, he added.
Officials say about 144 foreigners and Saudis, including security forces, and 120 militants have died in attacks and clashes with police since May 2003, when al Qaeda suicide bombers hit three Western housing compounds in Riyadh.
posted by Marko at 3/29/2006 07:52:00 AM
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