Saudi Arabia: Authorities Arrest Al-Qaeda Point Man

Via Asharq Alawest -

Dammam, Asharq Al-Awsat- Saudi security authorities arrested a member of the Al-Qaeda organization whose name was not on the list of 85 wanted persons recently announced by the Saudi Interior Ministry. The security forces faced armed resistance when they arrested the individual and believe that he had an active relationship with the terrorist organization's cadres abroad.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said the monitoring the individual uncovered his direct relationship with the organization abroad. Moreover, information obtained by Asharq al-Awsat indicated that the wanted person was active in smuggling Saudi returnees from Guantanamo and wanted members of the organization in Saudi Arabia into a neighboring country and that the security organs had been pursuing the detainee for the past few months.

Interior Ministry Security Spokesman Major General Mansur al-Turki confirmed to Asharq al-Awsat yesterday that the detainee was not on the list of 85 and had direct contact with the organization abroad. As to the nature of relationship with Al-Qaeda organization outside the country, this will become clear from the investigations that Saudi security are having with the detainees, according to Al-Turki.

Unofficial information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat yesterday indicates that the detainee is in his thirties and was active in recruiting Saudis, among them returnees from Guantanamo, and members of Al-Qaeda organization who are active in a neighboring country. The information also indicated that the security organs sources have been pursuing him for several months and he was monitored inside a low-income house in Al-Sadah neighborhood, Buraydah city, Al-Qasim region. Maj. Gen. Al-Turki said "the interest of the investigations requires that no information about his activities is given."