Two of them (Defendant Nos. 1 and 3) were charged with planning a suicide attack on Arar airport in the north of the Kingdom. They are accused of coordinating with Khaled bin Ali Al-Haj, who figures on the list of 19 wanted terrorists published by the Interior Ministry.

Abdullah Al-Saadan, spokesman of the Justice Ministry, said the public prosecutor also charged the seven with executing the orders and objectives of Al-Qaeda.

The seven also allegedly coordinated with foreign terrorist elements to provide them with men and weapons. Defendant Nos. 1 and 3 were accused of planning and preparing terrorist operations. “The two also organized a camp in Asir to train participants to use weapons and bombs,” Al-Saadan said, quoting the prosecutor.

The court allowed the media to attend the fifth session of the trial on Saturday when four suspects — Defendant Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 7 — heard the charges against them. The lawyer of Defendant Nos. 1, 3 and 5 requested the judge to allow him to meet with the three to prepare a reply for the charges against them.

“The judge gave the lawyer one month to prepare the reply,” Al-Saadan said. Defendant No. 7 gave his answer to the judge vocally.

The prosecutor said Defendant Nos. 1, 2 and 3 also planned to carry out attacks against expatriate workers in the Kingdom. Defendants 2 and 3 traveled to Afghanistan to get trained in weapons and explosives while Defendant No. 7 went to Afghanistan to take part in the war.

“Defendant Nos. 1 and 2 are accused of setting up a military training camp in Bariq in Asir province. All the defendants except No. 3 had taken part in this camp,” he said. Defendant No. 2 is accused of protecting Al-Haj while Defendant No. 1 is accused of possessing two machine guns, two ordinary guns, a hand grenade and caches of live ammunition.

Reporters attended the session as the judge refused to accept the defendants’ request to keep the media away. The judge said the court had agreed to carry out the trial publicly in order to ensure transparency.

Arab News learned some of these terror suspects had allegedly plotted to kill an expatriate working in a company in Dammam by shooting at him while driving. When Defendant No. 2 went out to execute the plan he saw a camera flash, which prevented him from committing the murder, according to the charge sheet. He feared his action had been monitored.

The seven allegedly planned the suicide attack on Arar airport and asked an individual in Afghanistan to provide them with men and weapons for the operation.

Defendant No. 2 had received military training at Khaldan camp, one source said. He also allegedly destroyed his Saudi passport and requested a replacement. He was apparently trying to prove that he had not traveled to Afghanistan.