JEDDAH: Around 90 percent of people arrested by security forces in recent anti-terror sweeps across the Kingdom were Saudis plotting to attack oil facilities and other vital economic installations, Interior Minister Prince Naif said in remarks published yesterday.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, Prince Naif said the international community must cooperate to stop terror funding. “If they fail to dry up their financial sources, terrorism will prevail,” he added.
Prince Naif’s comments came four days after the Interior Ministry announced the arrests of 701 suspected militants for plotting to carry out attacks on vital Saudi installations.
“Some of the detainees were planning to stage terrorist attacks on oil fields and installations,” said Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, the ministry’s spokesman.
Prince Naif said there was no evidence to implicate any foreign country for terrorist activities inside the Kingdom. However, he did not rule out a foreign role. “We make statements based on facts,” he said.
The interior minister said tensions and turbulences in neighboring Arab countries, especially Iraq, have brought the terror threat closer to the Kingdom. He said Saudi security forces were ready to confront Al-Qaeda. “They may have other plans and we expect anything from them,” the prince said, adding that security forces are capable of destroying those who try to undermine the nation’s security.
Speaking about the cooperation of neighboring countries in exchanging information about terror suspects, he said, “There are some countries that give full cooperation while there are others who extend reasonable help. A third group does not provide any assistance,” he said.
Referring to reports that terrorists enter the Kingdom on Haj and Umrah visas, Prince Naif said authorities would intensify monitoring to thwart any such possibilities. He, however, emphasized that the Kingdom would not prevent Muslims from coming to the Kingdom for pilgrimage. “But we’ll keep a close watch on those who exploit the system,” he said.
He further praised Saudi security forces for preempting terrorist attacks, and called on Saudis and expatriates to cooperate in their fight against terrorism.
Prince Naif added that the Kingdom increased security around oil installations.
The Interior Ministry announced last Wednesday that it had broken up five terror cells during the last six months. Of the total 701 arrested, 520 are still in detention while the remaining 181 have been released as there was no evidence to prove their links to terrorist groups, according to Gen. Al-Turki.
The large-scale security sweep, which was carried out over the past few months in various parts of the Kingdom, led to the seizure of arms, ammunition, sophisticated electronic equipment and money.
In one instance, Al-Turki said a cell controlled by African immigrants was broken up in the Eastern Province. The Africans were in the process of influencing employees in oil installations to secure jobs. Without giving details, he said the cell had also begun planning a car bomb attack on “an oil site and a security target.”
