JEDDAH, 15 February 2004 — A reward of seven million riyals has been offered for information leading to the recovery of a car bomb that Saudi authorities believe could be used in a terror attack.
The Interior Ministry posted the reward on Friday. A statement said that they have confirmed information that a vehicle, registered in the name of one of the 26 most wanted suspects, has been equipped with a large quantity of explosives to be used in a “criminal act.” The capital’s residents, the ministry warned, should be on the alert as the terror suspects may well have hidden the car bomb in a residential area, urging the public to contact 990 if they have any information on the vehicle.
The government issued a list with photos of 26 wanted men on Dec. 6 last year. Authorities said the men were connected to the terrorist attacks that had taken place in the Kingdom over the past few months.
Authorities have offered a separate SR1 million reward for information leading to the arrest of any one of the wanted men on the list. The reward rises to SR5 million for information leading to the arrest of more than one, and to SR7 million for actions that foil an attempted terrorist attack.
The list includes 23 Saudis, two Moroccans and a Yemeni. The list was subsequently narrowed to 24 after one of the wanted suspects was killed in a clash with security forces and another surrendered to the authorities. A Saudi daily reported last week that the body of another suspect on the list was found in a desert area north of the capital, but the report was yet to be confirmed by authorities.
The ministry described the explosive-filled vehicle as a 1991 model GMC Suburban SUV, plate No. 034, burgundy color inside and lead-gray outside. The vehicle has new tires and its back windows are heavily tinted. There are scratches or light damage on the driver’s side of the vehicle, possibly the result of a scrape with another car or solid object. All the back seats have been removed.
The vehicle was last seen in Rabwa to the east of the capital. State-owned television showed pictures of a vehicle it said was similar to the one being sought by police.
