JEDDAH, 28 November 2003 — Terrorists had rigged a pick-up truck packed with more than a ton of explosives to carry out a major bomb attack in Riyadh when security forces foiled their plans on Tuesday, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.
State television showed footage of the truck seized by security forces after a gunbattle with militants on Tuesday in which two wanted terrorists were killed and a police officer injured.
The truck also carried rocket-propelled grenades and gas cylinders to magnify the force of the explosion.
The spokesman identified the two dead terrorists as Abdul-Mohsen Abdul-Aziz Al-Shebanat and Musaed Muhammad Al-Subaie.
Al-Shebanat was shot and killed as he fired at security forces from the boot of a car while Subaie blew himself up with a hand grenade, the Saudi Press Agency quoted the official as saying.
Security forces were continuing their manhunt for an unspecified number of militants who escaped while police were carrying out preliminary investigations at a militant hideout, he said.
Officials said Tuesday’s raid by security forces thwarted an imminent attack during Eid Al-Fitr, less than three weeks after suspected Al-Qaeda bombers killed at least 18 people in a residential compound in the capital.
“The truck had 1,267 kg of ammonium nitrate-based explosives in the back when it was seized,” the spokesman said. A further 1,377 kg of explosives was found nearby, along with more than a thousand rounds of ammunition.
Television footage showed a pick-up truck, painted dark brown and marked with military insignia. Authorities also showed what they said were forged emblems of state security agencies, and military uniforms.
Witnesses have said the attackers who struck on Nov. 8 at the Al-Muhaya Compound on Riyadh’s eastern outskirts got through a National Guard checkpoint because their vehicle had military markings.
