JEDDAH: Second Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Prince Naif has emphasized that the Kingdom’s policy of enticing “repentant” extremists will not change in reaction to the recent assassination attempt on his son — Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs Muhammad bin Naif — by a man pretending to surrender.
Prince Muhammad was lightly wounded in the attack by an explosive device on the suicide bomber believed detonated with his mobile phone.
“The security efforts and strategy that the country is following for reform will not change,” said Prince Naif, while addressing a gathering at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) early Sunday morning. “This incident will not change this policy by which we open the door for those who repent.”
This was the first meeting between Prince Naif in his role as second deputy premier and Jeddah business executives. The meeting was aimed at discussing economic development in Makkah province, but the assassination attempt on Prince Naif’s son took center stage.
Prince Naif also warned of the possibility of more sophisticated attacks. “In this country we are targeted,” said the minister. “The situation could change and could intensify, not in terms of the number (of attacks) but rather in their nature, and that is more dangerous.”
He cited recent arrests of suspects “with advanced degrees” on charges of promoting and sponsoring terrorism in the Kingdom. A number of wireless detonators were confiscated from them.
“It saddens me to see that some educated sons of this country are aiding in such criminal acts,” Prince Naif said. The man who blew himself up Thursday night in the Jeddah office of Prince Muhammad was identified as Abdullah Hassan Tali Al-Asiri, aka Abul-Khair. The Saudi government has not officially announced the identity of the man, but Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu-Bakr Al-Qirbi told The Associated Press that Al-Asiri claimed he wanted to turn himself in to Saudi authorities. Al Arabiya television quoted Al-Qirbi as saying Al-Asiri traveled to Saudi Arabia from the Yemeni region of Ma’rib.
The Kingdom issued a list of 85 wanted suspects in February and analysts said many of them were in Yemen, including Al-Asiri.
Al-Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula posted a statement on websites on Sunday saying Al-Asiri was flown to Jeddah from Najran near the Yemeni border after entering from Yemen by land. “Abdullah Hassan Tali Al-Asiri … managed to enter his palace, pass (Prince Muhammad bin Naif’s) guards and blow up a package,” said the statement. “He managed to get through all the inspections at Najran and Jeddah airports and traveled on his (the prince’s) private jet.”
Al Arabiya said Al-Asiri was a 23-year-old Saudi whose brother Ibrahim is also on the wanted list.
JCCI Chairman Muhammad Al-Fadl began his speech expressing the happiness of Jeddah community over the escape of Prince Muhammad.
“Everybody here is angry over this terrorist attack ... at the same time, they are happy over the successful handling of the event by security forces,” he said.
He said trade and industry would not progress without security. “People were eager to know whether any harm had been inflicted on the prince after the attack and rejoiced when they saw the prince on television in good health,” he said.
Al-Fadl emphasized the community’s support for the security forces in their endeavor to crush terrorists. “I would like to reiterate here that we would sacrifice our lives and wealth in support of the security machinery to exterminate terrorism,” he told the audience. He thanked Prince Naif for accepting the invitation of Jeddawis to celebrate his appointment as second deputy premier in March.
— With input from Galal Fakkar
