BURAIDAH, 30 July 2003 — The seventh militant who was injured in a shootout with security forces in Al-Qasim on Monday was discharged from King Fahd Specialist Hospital and handed over to police while funeral prayers were held at the Mosque of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for two victims of the incident here yesterday.
The militant, who sustained minor injuries to his hand in the firing, has been identified as Ibrahim Obaidallah Al-Harbi, Arab News learned yesterday.
Security officials have intensified their presence around the farm where the terror suspects were hiding. Police have also arrested for questioning the owner of the farm, who was absent from the scene at the time of the shootout.
Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday paid a short visit to Al-Qasim. The prince met with the region’s dignitaries, government officials and security commanders and conveyed the condolences of the Saudi leadership to the families of the dead officers, who he said were martyrs who died defending their country. He reiterated the government had full confidence in the people of the region.
“We are all responsible for not taking care of our youth and how they think and where they are heading,” he said and expressed regret over errant youth who hold ideas that have nothing to do with Islam.
“We are all on the side of right. We will defend this religion (Islam) and hold fast to Shariah and apply it in every aspect of our life. We shouldn’t be affected by what comes from a group of people from this country who have been misled and who carry evil thoughts that have been planted in their minds. These people think they are serving Islam, but what they are doing has nothing to do with Islam. A Muslim never kills another Muslim and Islam protects human lives. Islam even protects trees from being destroyed,” the prince added.
Meanwhile Deputy Governor of Al-Qasim Prince Abdulaziz ibn Majed, top officials and a large number of citizens and expatriates attended the funeral prayer for the two security officers killed in the shootout.
The prayers were held for Lt. Sattam ibn Gazi Al-Mutairy and Sgt. Ali ibn Gazi Al-Harbi of the Special Emergency Forces killed in the firefight with Islamic militants.
Prince Abdulaziz conveyed to the victims’ families the condolences of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, and Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
The vice governor also paid a visit to King Fahd Specialist Hospital to console the injured security men who took part in the raid on the farm.
Prince Naif had earlier yesterday ruled out the extradition of Saudi national Omar Al-Bayoumi, suspected by Washington of having been an associate of two of the Sept. 11 suicide bombers.
“We have never handed over a Saudi to a state or foreign party and we never will,” Prince Naif said when asked by Al-Hayat newspaper if Riyadh was ready to extradite Bayoumi.
Prince Naif also reiterated that the majority of militants arrested in Saudi Arabia since the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States received training at Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan.
“We are now sure that they are linked to Al-Qaeda and (the network’s leader Osama) Bin Laden and they will be judged on this basis,” Prince Naif said, quoted by Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News.
(Additional input from Agencies)
