Saudi security forces are reported to have arrested five more suspects in connection with the May 12th Riyadh suicide attacks that left 34 people dead including nine bombers.
The arrests, carried out in raids on Wednesday and yesterday, were made in the Muslim holy city of Medina, where at least 11 other suspects were arrested a few days earlier, Saudi newspaper Al-Watanreports today.
Quoting unnamed security officials, the paper said two men were arrested at an Internet cafe in the first raid, while in the second two men and a woman were arrested at a private home.
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said on Wednesday that 11 people, including three women, were arrested in Medina during several raids by the security forces.
He added that among those arrested were three hardline clerics, Mr Ali Khudhair al-Khudair, Mr Ahmed bin Hmud al-Khaldi and Mr Nasser bin Hamad al-Fahd, who supported the Riyadh bombings.
Saudi opposition abroad reported that Mr Khudair and Mr Khaldi had been killed during the operation, a claim denied by Prince Nayef.
Reports said that among the 11 caught was the alleged mastermind of the Riyadh attacks, Mr Ali al-Ghamdi.
Prince Nayef also said that until Wednesday 21 people with suspected links to the suicide bombings had been arrested and that four of six dead bombers were identified as members of a cell of 19 uncovered a few days before the attacks.
AFP