The attack killed seven expatriate workers and one Saudi National Guard officer. At least 50 others were injured in the assault on a petrochemical plant.

On Wednesday one of the two men said he would not approve confessions made prior to the start of the trial but would endorse the statements he gave recently in the second session of the trial. He also said he would retain a lawyer to reply to further questions.

The courtroom witnessed a young terror suspect embracing his brother who had come to defend him. They were on the verge of tears, as they had not met each other for quite a long time. Another defendant was seen helping his elderly father to walk. Defendants were also seen consulting their lawyers before giving answers about their previous confessions read out by the public prosecutor. Nine defendants said the investigators took their confessions by physical and psychological torture.

One defendant told the court that he was suffering from a mental illness and that as a result of taking some medicines he was in the habit of forgetting things. He requested the judge to give him a copy of his confessions in order for him to reply in writing.

He also requested the judge to appoint a lawyer to defend his case as he does not have financial capabilities to appoint one. The judge said he has the right to have a lawyer and that the government would pay for his lawyer. A lawyer will accompany the man during the coming sessions, it is learned.

When the Defendant No. 9 entered the court, the first thing the judge asked him was whether the jail authorities had arranged a dentist to treat his dental problem. The judge asked him on the basis of his statement in the last session. The defendant thanked the judge for his inquiry and said his dental ailment has been treated.

Defendant No. 3 arrived on a wheelchair due to a severe leg injury. During previous sessions walked with the support of a security officer. He is 63 years old.

Defendant No. 1 told the court on Wednesday that most of the confessions recorded in his name was incorrect and that he made those confessions under force. He said he had endorsed those confessions before the judge because of fear. He requested the judge to appoint a lawyer from outside the Justice Ministry. The court agreed to his request.

Defendant No. 3 said some wordings in the confessions recorded in his name were not correct and the court asked him to read the confessions again and point out his objections. He pointed out that although the title of the car in which weapons and bombs were found was in his name, the vehicle belongs to his brother.

The fourth defendant refused to approve the statement that he had met with other individuals. He said his involvement in purchasing weapons was just to help his brother. “I was not participating with them in terrorism,” he added.

Defendant No. 8 denied that he had described the perpetrators of the Yanbu attack as martyrs, saying: “I don’t have the authority to judge them as martyrs.”

He also denied previous confessions that he had burned some publications. Defendant No. 10 told the court that Mustafa, the leader of the operation, had asked him to go to Iraq to gain knowledge and not to learn how to be a terrorist.