74 held in Saudi for involvement in terror activities

Security forces arrested a total of 74 people involved in terrorist activities during last week’s sweep, Al-Watan Arabic daly reported on Saturday.

Forty people, who were involved in terrorism, did not have identity papers.

Some 27 Saudis, two Egyptians, two Yemenis, two Syrians and an American were arrested for being involved in terrorist activities and threatening national security. The arrested American is under investigation as another American, who was arrested in February, faces the Court of Appeals.

Last month, the Special Criminal Court in Riyadh sentenced two members of a terrorist cell to death and 25 others to varying jail terms. They belonged to a 36-member terrorist cell whose members were accused of various crimes.

Earlier, the Special Criminal Court sentenced 17 terror suspects to jail terms.

The convicts belonged to two terror groups, and they included a terrorist who plotted to assassinate the emir of Makkah.

The court gave 23 years in prison to defendant No. 4 who was convicted of several crimes. Another terror suspect was sentenced to 20 years in jail and a travel ban was imposed on him.

The Council of Ministers last month reiterated its determination to stamp out terror from within the Kingdom and other parts of the world.

The Cabinet emphasized that the Kingdom has been and is still in the forefront of countries that have made every effort to eliminate any thought or action that leads to terrorism.

“The Kingdom sees it as its responsibility to take part in any serious international effort that seeks to mobilize and combine international action in fighting terrorism and its sources,” it said.

This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette, March 22, 2015.