Saudi Arabia Forces Arrest Al-Qaeda Members
Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry declared via a press release that it arrested a whopping 60 people who were either members or associated with certain terrorist organizations including Al-Qaeda. According to the press release, the cell's members were planning a series of attacks on government institutions as well as foreign targets inside Saudi Arabia.
According to Major General Mansour al Turki of the Saudi Arabian Interior Ministry who held a press conference in Riyadh this Tuesday, the group was about to assassinate several important security officials. General al Turki also declared that the group had managed to construct a bomb-making facility in the capital city.
Saudi Arabia is the world biggest crude oil exporter and has lead a powerful campaign against Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations since 2004 when a terrorist attack on an oil rig killed 22 foreign workers.
Some critics of Saudi Arabia’s leadership say the rise in terrorist activity is partly their fault as some terrorist organizations are said to be funded by the royal family, particularly organizations that are currently fighting in Syria.
The arrested terrorist cell is believed to be linked with Al-Qaeda organizations active in Yemen and Syria. Security forces discovered the group’s base and whereabouts after monitoring several members and their conversations on social media platforms.