RIYADH, 23 June — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, stated yesterday that Saudi Arabia was not targeted by Al-Qaeda organization. However, he warned that the government would deal with terrorists and troublemakers with an iron hand.
Speaking to reporters after attending a graduation ceremony here, the prince said it was difficult to prevent cross-border smuggling into the country. He was replying to a question on how the recently arrested Al-Qaeda men smuggled two SAM-2 missiles into the Kingdom.
"As you know, the Kingdom’s long border comprises sands and mountains. So it will be difficult to completely stop smuggling. But we’ll deal with the culprits behind them with an iron hand," he said. SAM missile is a light weapon that could be carried in a bag after dissembling it, he pointed out.
He condemned the move by Western media to link Al-Qaeda terrorist network with the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the arrest of seven Al-Qaeda members including six Saudis and a Sudanese on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks against vital installations in the country using explosives and SAM-7 missiles.
An Interior Ministry official said security agencies had also held five Saudis and an Iraqi for protecting the Sudanese mastermind of an aborted missile attack near Prince Sultan Air Base in Alkharj and helping him to leave the Kingdom. Khartoum has extradited the Sudanese man to the Kingdom on Riyadh’s request.
"Evil exists everywhere and happens all the time," Prince Sultan said downplaying the recent arrests of seven Al-Qaeda operatives. The seven Al-Qaeda men will be brought to trial as per Shariah, he said.
He also denied that any "terrorist group" had been behind the death of Simon John Venesse, a British employee of Al-Bank Al-Saudi Al-Fransi, who was killed by a car bomb in Riyadh on Thursday. Prince Sultan also dismissed suggestions that Iraq posed a threat to the Kingdom.
In a related development, Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmad said Thursday’s car bomb attack was similar to a series of blasts that had taken place in the capital allegedly involving bootleggers.
"The circumstances are quite similar to previous incidents by all standards including the type of explosion and the method followed. However, we cannot say anything for sure unless investigations are completed," he said and hoped the probe will not take long.
Asked whether there was any coordination with Yemen to prevent cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs, Prince Ahmad said both countries are making strenuous efforts to prevent smugglers and criminals crossing their borders. "If anything of that sort happens it will be very rare," he added.
Prince Ahmad said the 13 Al-Qaeda suspects arrested recently by Saudi security authorities were among those who had gone to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Mujahedeen against the Soviet forces. "They later returned to the Kingdom and these people are among them," he explained.
