JEDDAH, 2 July 2004 — Riyadh Deputy Governor Prince Sattam yesterday denied security forces killed top Al-Qaeda ideologue Abdullah Al-Rashoud but said the extremist killed in a shootout on Wednesday was “even more dangerous.”
“The extremist killed in the Al-Quds neighborhood, in the east of Riyadh, is not Abdullah Al-Rashoud, “ he said after attending funeral prayers for a security officer killed in the shootout.
He added the militant gunned down was “more dangerous and wanted for many attacks in the Kingdom.”
A statement issued by the Ministry of Interior last night named the militant who was killed in the shootout as Fahd ibn Ali Dakheel Al-Qablani.
Another most-wanted terrorist, Bander Al-Dakheel, escaped in the gunbattle.
The prince said the security officers were intensifying their campaign to hunt down wanted suspects. “We are trying our best to tighten control over the renting of residences, and search operations in neighborhoods are still continuing not only in Riyadh but all over the Kingdom,” he said.
Prince Sattam also denied reports that six booby-trapped cars were found and defused.
A statement by the Interior Ministry said one militant and a police officer had been killed and six other police officers were wounded in Wednesday’s incident while a Saudi civilian and two foreigners were lightly hurt. Al-Rashoud figures 22nd on an Interior Ministry list of 26 most wanted men issued after the Riyadh compound attacks in November 2003. The list is now down to 14 after several men were either killed or jailed.
Al-Rashoud gave up a teaching post with Imam Muhammad ibn Saud IslamicUniversity before disappearing several years go.
Relatives of Al-Rashoud have urged him to give himself up to the security forces and benefit from last week’s pardon announced by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd, which gave the terrorists a month to surrender.
Meanwhile, Othman Al-Amri, the second wanted man who surrendered under the amnesty, said in a television interview that he had “seen the right path” and was now deeply sorry. “Some people said this amnesty is a ploy, but I assure them that it is not and I urge them to take advantage of this chance before it’s too late. It’s not in their interest to ignore it,” he said.
The government says it will drop charges against militants who surrender but families of their victims can push for punishment under Shariah law. “I call on all the brothers to forget everything they heard about mistreatment from the authorities,” said Al-Amri.
Saudi television also broadcast an interview with Saaban Al-Shehri, the first militant to use the amnesty who also gave a repentant confession.
The former fugitive said he was overjoyed to be finally able to see his family again and to walk the streets without fear of arrest. “You can’t believe my happiness and relief. My family didn’t know anything about me, they thought I was dead or imprisoned,” he said.
