RIYADH, 21 June 2004 — A Pakistani worker at the Al-Malaz gas station where Friday’s shootout between terrorists and security forces took place has spoken about the dramatic events that led to the death of Abdul Aziz Al-Muqrin and three of his followers.

Muhammad Azeem, 33, said Al-Muqrin and his companions stopped at the petrol station to buy groceries when security forces surrounded them.

“They started shooting at the security forces,” he said. “They had a machine gun with them. When the shooting started I ran and hid in a corner of the gas station to protect myself from flying bullets.”

Another eyewitness said one of the terrorists was killed behind a police car and another died in the middle of the forecourt. He said police took control of the situation very quickly.

One security officer was also killed and one critically wounded.

Private First Class Ayed Al-Rashidi, a National Guard officer, was shot three times by the terrorists — in the right thigh, his leg and hips.

Gathered round his bed in the intensive care unit, his family told Arab News Al-Rashidi joined the National Guard after finishing high school. Two years ago, he joined the special forces.

A veteran of anti-terror operations, Al-Rashidi celebrated a recent promotion by getting engaged to marry his cousin in Hail. The wedding was scheduled 15 days from now.

“We are sons of this country and it is the responsibility of every citizen to protect and serve his country,” Al-Rashidi’s brother said.

Riyadh Governor Prince Salman and Deputy Interior Minister Prince Muhammad ibn Naif are said to be asking for daily updates on Al-Rashidi’s condition.

Substantial Setback

The Kingdom eliminated a dangerous foe when they shot dead Al-Muqrin, according to Mohsen Al-Awajy, who has worked with authorities to persuade terrorists to lay down their guns.

“It is a very substantial setback for this organization,” he said. “He has been the most important target for security forces since the beginning of this violence.”

But Al-Awajy said Al-Muqrin’s death, while a breakthrough, had not ended the danger. “We should be even more careful. The rest of this group may strike indiscriminately,” he said.

“He’s a killer. He wanted to kill as many people as he could before he died,” Al-Awajy told Reuters earlier this month.

Al-Muqrin was a member of a hit squad that tried to kill Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa during an African summit in 1995.

Al-Muqrin spent two years in jail in Ethiopia and was extradited to Saudi Arabia in 1998. He then served two years at Al-Ruwais prison in Jeddah.

“After his release he acted as an avenger... He was a killer,” Al-Awajy said. “He was shallow, very simple-minded. He had no political brain. He had got the weapon and no mind to control this weapon.”