RIYADH, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Arrests 208 Terror Suspects

Kingdom's Largest Anti-Terror Sweep Nabs Those Thought To Have Ties To Al Qaeda

  •  (AP / CBS)

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(AP)  Over 200 al Qaeda linked suspects belonging to different cells and involved in different plots against the kingdom have been arrested in recent months in the kingdom's largest anti-terror sweep to date, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced Wednesday.

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.
Add a Comment See all 21 Comments
by fitedafuture November 29, 2007 10:57 AM EST
US ran out of enemies when cold war was over,so lets stir up some sh*t around the world see whos game?
Reply to this comment
by fitedafuture November 29, 2007 10:55 AM EST
yeah of course,these countries deal and have been dealing with terrorism long before the word even was spoken for the public tongue,only the elitist cesspool in the white house knew about it and deviced several ways to cash in on this new form of rebellion,coup de etat, whichever you wanna call it..but rest assured it will never stop no matter how many soldiers we place or how many countries we invade,you cannot erase that type of response from peoples minds once its set in place,that is their way of sending smart bombs..its primitive but I guess it works for them...
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 November 29, 2007 3:00 AM EST
So the CIA construct''s (AQ) low level pawns learn the hard way, the problem with dancing with the devil is that when the dance is finished, so are you.

After 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.
Reply to this comment
by taddles-2009 November 29, 2007 2:29 AM EST
LOL...wouldn''t a ''sweep for terrorists'' in Saudi Arabia net most of the royal family? Who''s left to pump oil?
Reply to this comment
by mcvet November 28, 2007 8:49 PM EST
Hillary is not getting us out of Iraq either. Deal with it.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by hillaryin08 at 04:18 PM : Nov 28, 2007
+ report abuse


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!!
Reply to this comment
by amazedd November 28, 2007 7:35 PM EST
Bill the Saudis, as well.
Reply to this comment
by hillaryin08 November 28, 2007 7:18 PM EST
Hillary is not getting us out of Iraq either. Deal with it.
Reply to this comment
by amazedd November 28, 2007 7:05 PM EST
Israel should bill the Saudis for having to mind the Palestinians and all. Boarding, like.
Reply to this comment
by amazedd November 28, 2007 6:53 PM EST
Statesmanship is more than entertaining peasants.
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by terrorislam6 November 28, 2007 5:39 PM EST
19-Year Old Saudi Rape Victim Ordered to Undergo 200 Lashes
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,311848,00.html
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071115145104.rykb7bub&show_article=1
Reply to this comment
by terrorislam6 November 28, 2007 5:37 PM EST
%u201CMy whole back felt like it was on fire%u201D: As a British teacher faces 40 lashes, one man speaks out
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=496844&in_page_id=1811
Reply to this comment
by abdoul_pasha November 28, 2007 5:29 PM EST
Yes but they do what Bush says why are you so rude then?
Reply to this comment
by rowdytexan2 November 28, 2007 5:25 PM EST
Oh this is so...so depraved.

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 ***!
Reply to this comment
by terrorislam6 November 28, 2007 5:24 PM EST
1,500 %u201Cextremists''%u201Dreleased by Saudi
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/504837-saudi-releases-1500-extremists
Reply to this comment
by zorar-2009 November 28, 2007 5:20 PM EST
Abdoul_Pasha...this is Saudi Propoganda & Bush probably told them to do it so they can look good!
Reply to this comment
by terrorislam6 November 28, 2007 5:20 PM EST
IT IS FASCIST NAZIU TERRORISLAM STUPID

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
Reply to this comment
by abdoul_pasha November 28, 2007 5:13 PM EST
See, they have arrested terrorists, why do you always cry how bad the Saudis are?
Reply to this comment
by zorar-2009 November 28, 2007 5:12 PM EST
But are any these guys rape terroist suspects?
Reply to this comment
by bareemperor November 28, 2007 4:52 PM EST
gee, could this ''announcement'' have anything to do with diverting world attention away from the rape victim who will receive 200 lashes???

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...
Reply to this comment
by jetranger7 November 28, 2007 3:31 PM EST
shoot em'' all !!
Reply to this comment
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