The Interior Minister, Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, announced the arrest by Saudi security authorities of 11 terrorist suspects in Madinah, which brings to 21 the number of suspects arrested in connection with the bombings in Riyadh.
Addressing a press conference here today, Prince Naif denied press reports that Ali Al-Khudair, Ahmad Homoud Mifreh Al-Khaldi and Nasser Ahmad Al-Fuhaid had been killed or injured during the arrest of the suspects, and stressed that nobody had sustained injuries.
Prince Naif said that he had also heard misinformation on the bodies found after the bombings, and confirmed that four of nine bodies of men who committed suicide bombings were from among the 19 wanted persons announced previously. He noted that just six of the nine bodies were identified.
In response to a question, Prince Naif neither denied nor confirmed reports that the mastermind behind the Riyadh bombings was among those detained in Madinah. He referred the questioner to a detailed statement on the incident, which will be issued as soon as the investigations are complete.
Prince Naif said that preliminary investigations into the attacks on security officials in Al-Jouf revealed that they were isolated incidents, but that he could not rule out the possibility that further investigations could show that those responsible for the attacks are part of an organized group. He said that de-coding the terrorists’ communication network might take time, and that security forces are currently focussing on the Riyadh bombings.
Prince Naif confirmed the arrest of some religious leaders who vowed, in an extraordinary Fatwa, that killing people in the way that the terrorists did in Riyadh is not prohibited by Islam.
He said that Ali Fahd Al-Khudhair; Ahmed Homoud Mirfrih Al-Khaldi and Nassir Ahmed Al-Fihaid were arrested today, and added that investigations into these individuals are currently underway.
On the possibility of electing members of regional and local councils, he said: “I think that what is desired and important is that these councils have qualified members. Those who are current members are from among the best citizens.”
The press conference was attended by the Governor of Tabuk Region, Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, and other princes.
Source: SPA
