Saudi Arabia Arrests 208 Terror Suspects
Kingdom's Largest Anti-Terror Sweep Nabs Those Thought To Have Ties To Al Qaeda
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(AP / CBS)
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The ministry first reported the arrest of eight men, said to be linked to al Qaeda and allegedly planning to attack oil installations in the kingdom.
An interior ministry statement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, said the eight were part of a terrorist cell led by a non-Saudi man, who was one of the arrested. The planned attacks were to take place in the eastern region of the country, which is home to Saudi's main oil resources.
The arrest of the eight "pre-empted an imminent attack on an oil installation," the statement said without naming the target or providing more details.
The ministry also said 22 other suspects were arrested for allegedly supporting the al Qaeda terror network. This group plotted to assassinate the country's religious leaders and security officials, it said.
Eighteen others, led by an alleged expert in launching missiles, were arrested separately.
"They were planning to smuggle eight missiles into the kingdom to carry out terrorist operations," the ministry's statement said of that group.
Also, 112 other Saudis were taken into custody for links and "coordination with outside circles" to assist in smuggling men to troubled areas - shorthand for Iraq and Afghanistan - for training, after which they would be brought back for attacks in the kingdom, the statement added.
Thirty-two more men were arrested, both Saudis and non-Saudi, for providing financial aid to al Qaeda operations here, the ministry said.
Sixteen men were also arrested in the holy city of Medina for colluding to issue a publication propagating "misleading ideology" and criminal acts, the ministry said. The group also worked on helping volunteers go fight in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Wednesday announcement gave no timeline on the arrests of the separate groups.
The total number of the arrested was 208.
Saudi Arabia, which has a quarter of the world's proven oil reserves, has seen a rise in attacks by Islamist extremists over the last few years.
The kingdom, which is the birth place of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, has been waging a heavy crackdown on al Qaeda militants since a wave of attacks on foreigners in the kingdom in 2003.
In February 2006, two suicide bombers attacked the oil facility at Abqaiq on the east coast, killing two security guards and wounding eight foreign workers in an incident later claimed by the Saudi branch of al Qaeda.
The previous large sweep by the Saudi authorities was announced in April, netting 172 militants, including pilots they say were trained for oil refinery attacks using civilian planes.
In August, Saudi Arabia said it was setting up a 35,000-strong special force to protect its oil facilities due to the increasing threats against al Qaeda.
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 21 CommentsAfter the deaths of 4,000 US soldiers and countless Iraqis, 200 or so Saudis is a cheap price for a share of the 1.7 trillion embezzled from the US treasury.
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Posted by hillaryin08 at 04:18 PM : Nov 28, 2007
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You know this how? Oh let me guess!! YOU have a magic swastika!! ROFLMAO That''s got to be it since I seriously doubt the Honorable Senator shares her policy with the likes of you. I''ll also give you even to better odds that YOU are one of those wacko''s responsible for the WORST President in US History... George W. Bush!! Sieg Heil Bush!!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311848,00.html
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071115145104.rykb7bub&show_article=1
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=496844&in_page_id=1811
They''re going to round up and imprison all threats to their precious oil fields, while they imprison and flog a woman that was gang raped.
Seems strange for the country that spawned the actual purpatrators of 9/11 to say the least. Wonder how much Bush and Cheyney paid those guys for carrying out the 9/11 plan anyway?
From the minds of men come the stupidest actions. They really think the world is going to buy this ***!
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/504837-saudi-releases-1500-extremists
Dutch lawmaker planning film criticizing the Quran
A Dutch conservative lawmaker said Wednesday he is making a film to highlight what he describes as "fascist" passages in the Quran, his latest high profile criticism of Islam.
Wilders plans to depict parts of the Quran he says are used as inspiration "by bad people to do bad things."
Less than 10 minutes long, the film is expected to air in late January. It will show "the intolerant and fascist character of the Quran," said Wilders, whose anti-Islam campaign helped his Freedom Party win nine seats in parliament in last year''s election.
In the past, Wilders has said that half the Quran should be torn up and compared it with Adolf Hitler''s book "Mein Kampf." He has claimed the Netherlands is being swamped by a "tsunami" of Islamic immigrants.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/11/28/europe/EU-GEN-Netherlands-Anti-Quran-Film.php
Jesus Christ! 200 Lashes? Prison?
Of course, now I will be charged and punished by the American Taliban for using the lord''s name in vain...
Religion is so 12th century...
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