TAIF, 4 June 2004 — Normality has returned to the city and surroundings after two terrorists were killed following a massive search in the Al-Hada area. Stores and supermarkets that had shut following the two-day police drama were open for business. The main fruit market too opened on time and families came out in numbers to shop again.
The market had been shut during the police operation after two suspects had fled into the mountains after opening fire at police. Police closed all roads that led to the area in Al-Hada where the two suspected terrorists were later killed, Al-Madinah reported. Police are still diverting traffic from all roads, though they have reopened the Al-Hada-Al-Seel road. The network was closed for 16 hours.
Meanwhile, locals say the mountains where the two suspects hid before run to ground is rough and precarious to negotiate. At a height of 2,000 meters above sea level, sharp rocks litter the steep terrain. However, the absence of caves and other hiding places allowed police using night vision instruments to track down the suspects.
Al-Madinah reported the leader of the terror group that carried out the Khobar attack, Nemer Al-Bogami, underwent surgery to remove three bullets from his leg but remains in intensive care.
