JEDDAH, 25 December 2003 — Security forces have arrested a man resembling one of the 26 wanted terrorists, Al-Watan reported yesterday.
“The person raised suspicions among people in the village of Bani Afeef near Laith in the Makkah region when he asked for help,” the paper said.
“He looked nervous and tired which raised suspicions among the citizens, especially since he looked like Talal Anbar Ahmad Anbari, one of the men wanted by police,” the paper added.
A number of people from the village watched him closely, when he “went to the village’s health center and was refused any help because he lacked identification.”
The police were called and he was arrested on Monday.
“Security authorities are conducting an investigation, and it is expected that a DNA sample will be taken to confirm his identity,” the paper said.
Talal Anbari, 27, is from Taif. An average student, he dropped out of school after the 9th grade and reportedly left his family several months ago and has not been seen since.
On Dec. 6, the Interior Ministry announced that it was seeking 26 suspects involved in terrorist attacks in the country.
Saudi Ibrahim Al-Rayes, who figured on the list, was killed in a clash with security forces in Riyadh on Dec. 8.
The ministry has promised a reward of SR7 million to anyone providing information that stops a potential attack. An SR5 million reward will go to anyone who comes forward with information leading to the arrest of a group of the wanted suspects and other “terror elements,” while information leading to the arrest of one of the suspects will earn SR1 million.
The latest list, published along with photographs of the wanted militants, included six identified on a list issued just before the May 12 suicide bombings in Riyadh. Twelve on the earlier list of 19 have since been killed or captured by security forces.
The Interior Ministry has warned those who shelter the suspects of “severe punishment,” and the press has been enlisted in the effort.
Newspapers regularly publish photos of suspects and call on citizens and expatriates to help police track them down.
In a related development, security forces in Jizan have arrested the owner of a local computer and printing center after he was caught producing a manual for making explosives and bombs.
On the premises, authorities also found a CD containing detailed step-by-step instructions on how to make bombs and explosives.
Security forces raided the computer center after they were tipped off about “suspicious activities.” Police arrested seven men including a computer expert.
Authorities also found bomb-making documents downloaded from the Internet in the computer’s hard drive.
