MAKKAH, 30 June 2005 — Lt. Col. Mubarak Al-Sawat, who was shot dead in front of his house while leaving for work on June 19, was targeted by a group of killers for being good at his job. He was rated as the best and the most valuable interrogators in the country.
He was one of the best security officers in the country but was unaware that terrorists were on the roof of his house, waiting for him to go to work. With cameras, sticking tape, ropes and knives, the terrorists were well-equipped to record the commission of a brutal murder.
Lt. Col. Al-Sawat was on the terrorists’ list of the ten most wanted Saudi officers. Their plan was to attack and overpower him, tie him up, tape his mouth shut and then film scenes of slow torture and finally of the officer’s slaughter.
Their plan was then to post the film on their websites and distribute it throughout their network.
Their plans, however, went awry and they ended up shooting and killing Al-Sawat and immediately leaving the scene.
Mohammed Al-Sawat, Mubarak’s uncle said that his nephew was well-built and well-trained and when he encountered the terrorists, he fought them bravely. When they realized their victim’s skill and strength, Mohammed said, “They ran down the stairs and simply opened fire at him while their camera was running the whole time.”
According to Mohammed, the terrorists had no chance to use any weapons but their guns.
When she heard the shots, Mubarak’s wife ran outside and saw that her husband had been shot. He ordered her back into the house and told her to stay there. “That was when he fell down, dead,” said his uncle. By this time, the terrorists had fled and a neighbor had called the police.
When the police arrived, they found much of their work had already been done by the terrorists. The criminals’ fingerprints were on the knives, the tape and of course, most important of all, there was a video recording of the morning’s tragic events. In only a few hours, the terrorists were caught.
The Victim
Mubarak Al-Sawat knew that his life was in danger. He knew very well that he was on the terrorists’ list of the 10 most wanted men. His uncle said, “He was brave; he never worried about the threats he regularly received by phone and e-mail.”
He was recognized as one of the best and most valuable interrogators in the country. “He had participated in cases in Jizan, Riyadh and Dammam; he always did his duty and we were always afraid for his safety,” added Mohammed.
His relatives all warned him of the dangers but, as Mohammed said, “He never shirked his duty or excused himself from doing his job.”
The Killer: Mustafa Al-Thubaity was a young man from Taif. His father, Abdul Baset Al-Thubaity, is the head of personnel affairs at Al-Taif University. Abdul Baset wanted his son to be a scientist or a science teacher and so Mustafa was enrolled in the science faculty.
A few months later, Abdul Baset learned that his son was not doing well in science and he allowed Mustafa to move to the religious studies faculty and in time, Mustafa became the imam of a mosque and naturally, his father was proud and felt optimistic and hopeful about Mustafa’s future.
Unfortunately, Abdul Baset’s happiness was short-lived since, unknown to him, Mustafa had joined a terrorist group. His parents noticed nothing strange and it was not until the day of their son’s death that they learned the terrible truth.
