JEDDAH: The state prosecutor has called on the courts to sentence 16 people to death if they are found guilty of various terrorism-related charges, including murder, sedition, and possession of explosives, weapons and ammunition.

The suspects have also been charged with setting up a terrorist cell in Al-Awamiyah in the Eastern Province. The charges against them include firing at traffic officers, murdering and injuring security personnel, armed robbery and sodomy.

The court will hear testimony from eight other accused next week, who face charges of throwing grenades at security personnel, and transferring large sums of money from banks in the province of Qatif.

They have also been accused of shooting and killing citizens, and possession of machine guns, pistols, ammunition and grenades with intention to disrupt the country’s internal security.

The public prosecutor stated that the first defendant faces 78 charges including possession and use of narcotics, and sodomy. The second accused was charged with four crimes including providing and using Captagon capsules.

The third has 15 charges against him including making of homemade bombs and using them against security personnel. There are 49 charges against the fourth accused including killing of a soldier and injuring his colleague, armed robbery, and firing on a driver of a car carrying money.

There are 18 charges against the fifth accused, seven against the sixth accused, 25 against the seventh, 14 against the eighth, 22 against the ninth, 11 against the tenth, and 16 against the eleventh accused.

The twelfth accused has 37 charges against him including killing of an Asian expatriate while firing on security personnel. He allegedly had a 9mm revolver with live ammunition in his possession.