Three of the suicide bombers who attacked housing complexes in Saudi Arabia last week were among 19 men who escaped arrest during police raids six days earlier, Prince Nayef, the interior minister, said yesterday. From Brian Whitaker in Riyadh
The prince's admission is likely to raise further questions about the competence of the security forces, who have already been accused of failing to step up precautions in the kingdom despite warnings that a serious attack was imminent.
Prince Nayef also raised doubts about the likely extent of Saudi co-operation with FBI investigators who have arrived in Riyadh with specialised equipment.
Seventeen Saudis, a Yemeni and an Iraqi fled during the botched round-up of suspects on May 6th. A search of a car and flat used by them later uncovered more than 370kg of RDX military explosive, together with guns, disguises and other equipment.
"Three of those who died in the bombings were from the 19," Prince Nayef told a press conference in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
Four people are being interrogated in connection with the bombings, he added.
"They are not among those who committed the bombings but they are from the same group. They have the same ideology." He said he believed there was a link between the attacks in Saudi Arabia and those in Morocco at the weekend.
Asked about co-operation with FBI investigators, Prince Nayef said the FBI had come to the kingdom "at the request of the American authorities because there were deaths and injuries on the American side" and they would be welcome to look at the site. A questioner pointed out that the FBI was expecting to do more than look at the site and asked the prince if this was what he really meant.
The prince replied: "We welcome them here to inspect the site and location of the bombs." He said rumours of other bombings and shootings in the kingdom were baseless. "Those who spread rumours will be punished." Foreigners who live and work in Saudi Arabia would be protected, he said, "but we don't give any guarantees".
"No one on earth can guarantee there will be no terrorist attacks, but here in the kingdom we always catch the culprits." - (Guardian)