July 7, 2006

THE SAUDI LEADERSHIP OFFERS ITS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF THE MARTYR ABDUL RAHMAN IBN HASSAN AL-SHEHRI. A SECURITY OPERATION IN AL-NAKHEEL LEADS TO THE KILLING OF SIX DEVIANTS WITH ONE INJURED AND THE MARTYR OF A MEMBER OF THE SECURITY FORCES. THE DETENTION OF 50 FROM THE DEVIANT GROUP IN RIYADH, MAKKAH AND THE EASTERN AND NORTHERN REGIONS. PRINCE NAIF IBN ABDUL AZIZ STRESSES THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE. THE GRAND MUFTI OF SAUDI ARABIA CONDEMNS THE CRIMINAL ACTS PERPETRATED BY THE DEVIANT GROUP AND CALLS ON THE SOCIETY NOT TO HIDE ANY CRIMINALS. THE JORDANIAN MONARCH CALLS FOR WORKING HONESTLY AND SERIOUSLY, TO ERADICATE TERRORISM, AND EXPOSE THE MISGUIDING THOUGHTS THAT HARM ISLAM. Six deviants were killed and one injured and arrested in Al-Nakheel suburb in Riyadh, an official source at the Ministry of Interior said and noted that one security man was martyred and some other security men were injured. The source stated that security men tracked down seven deviants belonging to the deviating group to a house which was used as a den of a crime, wreaking havoc on the earth and a starting base for plots of aggression. Upon arrival at the scene, heavy fires from machine guns were shot at the security men who controlled the situation in a brief time, the source pointed out. A detailed subsequent statement was issued later as follows: An official source at the Interior Ministry said that a security chase of deviants has resulted in the discovery of suspicious activities of a deviant group which was targeting the community and its resources. On the basis of this, Security Forces arrested in a period ( between 11/4/1427 to 25/4/1427 A.H.) 27 deviants including two Somalians and one Ethiopian who were involved in those suspicious activities in Riyadh region, Makkah region, Eastern Province and Northern region. In the same context, security forces raided and surrounded a hideout in desert region, under the jurisdiction of Hafr-al-Baten where three Saudis and one Iraqi, all of whom are wanted by security, were arrested. In the same place, security forces confiscated weapons and documents. Later on, nine Saudi members of the group were arrested by security forces. In completion of its security missions, security forces chased on (Friday 27/5/1427 A.H.) seven deviants who were riding a stolen car to a house in Al-Nakheel neighbourhood in Riyadh. Following this, the deviants started shooting at security forces, who were prompted to respond in turn, leading to the death of six of them and they are: 1) Mohammad Ibn Rashed Al-Julaidan (Saudi) 2) Sami Ibn Saud Al-Motairi (Saudi) 3) Misha'al Ibn Abdullah Al-Reshoud (Saudi) 4) Homoud Ibn Moqbil Al-Otaibi (Saudi) 5) Sa'ad Ibn Abdullah Al-Mu'aither (Saudi) 6) Ghazi Ibn Salayym Al-Otaibi (Saudi) In addition to this, one of the group members was arrested and he is still receiving the necessary medical treatment and is kept unidentified for security reasons. Furthermore, the security chase of this group resulted in arresting two who are directly linked to the group. A security man (Abdul Rahman Ibn Hassan Al-Shehri) was martyred, seven others were injured and they are now in a stable situation and no citizens nor residents were injured. At the location of the incident, security forces confiscated weapons, sums of money, forged documents, computers, electronic storage devices, telecommunication equipment, a well-equipped studio to be used to film or to record, forged car registration plates in addition to forging equipment. The Saudi security forces killed six suspected members of a terrorist cell plotting suicide attacks from a house in a residential district of the capital early yesterday morning. One suspect, injured by gunfire while trying to escape, has been captured but was in critical condition at an undisclosed location. "In the early morning hours, security forces pursued the seven members of the deviant minority to a house in the Al-Nakhil district and immediately came under sustained automatic weapons fire," said Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki. One member of the Kingdom's security forces, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al-Shehri, was killed while others were injured in the shootout, said Al-Turki. By about 2.30 a.m. the police had secured the area and were searching the house, which the ministry described as "a hide-out for crime, corruption and a base for plots of aggression." One of the policemen cordoning off the area told the news agency AFP: "The group was preparing a terrorist operation and its members were being tailed on the basis of intelligence service information." The Saudi television showed police removing several vehicles from the scene, some of them damaged in the clash, as officers carried away what appeared to be bags of evidence. Security sources said the militants were on the verge of launching unspecified attacks. The ministry reported that the search of the property turned up boxes of documents and computers that were being used to communicate with others through the Internet. The two-story house was recently constructed in this residential neighbourhood. Policemen at the scene later said they had seized a videotape showing that the group had been plotting to carry out a suicide bombing against a security target in Riyadh within the next two days. An eyewitness told Arab News that the men initiated the exchange of fire with the authorities. "The whole operation was brought under control within 45 minutes," said the witness to the fire fight who did not want to be identified. He said that an SUV and a sedan belonging to the suspects were damaged in the shootout. The Interior Ministry arranged a private plane to fly in members of slain officer Shehri's family to attend his burial, said General Turki. On the other hand Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz Abdul Aziz Minister of Interior said that those who were arrested or killed had helped terrorists in a way or another and that a clear press release had been issued by the Interior ministry and any inquiries in the future will be answered fully by a concerned department. Minister of Interior Prince Naif said terror cells would continue to exist unless international action was taken to dry up their sources. Referring to the success of security forces in recent operations that resulted in the killings of six suspected terrorists and the arrest of 43 others in the Kingdom. In an answer to a question whether there are terrorist cells scattered in different parts of the country, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz Abdul Aziz said that he has never negated their existence and that they are still in the Kingdom and they will exist unless international measures are undertaken to dry up terrorism sources. Answering another question whether the arrest of fifty suspects or more means a beginning of a new elements list to be announced later, Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz Abdul Aziz said that it is not a beginning; it is a continuation. The minister said that the arrest of new suspects did not mean a new list of wanted terrorists would be announced. He said the new suspects were not on a new list but the fight against terrorism is continuous. When the Kingdom announced that one of the 43 men arrested was an Iraqi, questions were asked whether this meant Saudi links to Al-Qaeda in Iraq. Prince Naif said it was too early to draw any such conclusion but an investigation would be made. When asked whether there are links to Iraq-based Al-Qaida in the Kingdom, he said that it is too early to say such a thing and that an investigation must be made. Regarding the international campaign to close the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay and whether Saudi Arabia supported this, Naif replied, "Of course." He expressed the hope that all Saudis there would come back to the Kingdom. Answering a question about the suicide of Saudis in Guantanamo Detention Center, he said that the dead bodies have arrived in the Kingdom. In answer to a question about a national security court, he said that it was misunderstood, it is still being studied, and that it is something like a supreme court but we do not want to spread it in the foreign sense because the foreign courts of national security are far away from the Islamic judicial system. When asked whether the detainees handed over to the Kingdom had been involved in any terrorist acts, the prince said the men were being investigated and "we promise to explain everything to the Saudi people." He confirmed the arrival of the 14 detainees released from Guantanamo, saying that thirteen were Saudis and the other was a Turkestani. Those released, according to the Interior Ministry, are Musa Abdul Wahab Abdul Kader Al-Hawsawi, Yousuf Khamees Abdullah Al-Sulaimani, Abdul Salam Ghethan Mureef Al-Shehri, Muhammad Suror Dakhelullah Al-Otaibi, Othman Ahmad Othman Al-Ghamdi, Saleh Ali Zaheed Al-Katha'ami, Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Abdul Aziz Al-Baddah, Sadiq Ahmad Sadiq Nur Turkistani, Rasheed Abdul Musleh Gayed Al-Gayed, Tariq Shalah Hasan Al-Harbi, Abdullah Muhammad Saleh Al-Ghanmi, Ibraheem Muhammad Ibraheem Al-Nasr, Saad Ibraheem Saad Al-Badna and Wasm Awad Omar Al-Wasm. Prince Naif made his remarks at a late night press conference following a meeting of the Higher Committee of Prince Naif's Universal Prizes for the Prophet's Tradition and Islamic Contemporary Studies, which approved the winners for this year. The winners are Dr. Bassem Faisal Al-Jawabrah for the topic "Takfir in Light of Sunnah," Dr. Nawal Abdul Aziz Al-Eid for "Women's Rights in Sunnah" and Dr. Mohammad Waqeehullah Ahmad for "Islam in the Western Curriculum." The Prince Naif Prize for "Jihad in the Name of Allah" was withheld as Higher Committee officials said the research submitted fell short of the desired standards. Dr. Misfer Al-Bisher, executive manager of the Prince Naif Prize, said that 83 papers on jihad from all over the world were submitted but only 15 made it to the final judging committee. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz Abdul Aziz, Minister of the Interior made a phone call to the family of the martyr Abdul Rahman Hassan Al Shehri and Prince Khalid Al-Faisal the Governor of Assir region paid a visit to the offer condolences to the family of the martyr. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal offered on behalf of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz the condolences of the Saudi leadership to the family of the martyr. The family expressed their pride that their son was martyr for the country's cause. Meantime Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz, Vice Governor of Riyadh Region paid at Security Forces Hospital a visit to the security men injured during tracking down seven deviants of the deviating group at Al-Nakheel suburb in Riyadh. Upon arrival at the hospital, he was received by a number of commanders and officers. The Prince conveyed to the injured the greetings and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz; Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior and Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region for their honourable act in performing duties assigned to them. Prince Sattam Ibn Abdul Aziz was reassured about the health of the injured, wishing them a quick recovery and return to their work to defend the homeland. Also Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, performed funeral prayer on the soul of Abdul Rahman Ibn Hassan Mohammed Al Shehri, the serviceman of the Special Security Forces, who martyred in action against a deviant group at Al Nakheel District incident in Riyadh. Also attending the prayer at King Khalid Ibn Abdul Aziz mosque today were a number of senior civil and military officials of the Ministry of Interior. Following the service, Prince Mohammed conveyed to the family and relatives of the martyr the condolences of Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Interior, and his deputy Prince Ahmed Ibn Abdul Aziz, appealing to Almighty Allah to bestow mercy upon the martyr's soul, accommodate him in paradise and inspire patience and tolerance to his relatives. On the other hand, Prince Mohammed Ibn Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, visited the security men who receive treatment at Riyadh-based Security forces Hospital following their injuries during a fighting with deviants at Al Nakheel suburb in Riyadh. He was assured of their health, conveying to them the wishes of the Saudi leadership of quick recovery. They thanked him for the visit, confirming to him that what they have done is just part of their duty towards their religion, leadership, country and people. The Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of Senior Ulema (Muslim scholars)Commission and Religious Research and Ifta Department Sheikh Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh has condemned the criminal acts perpetrated by the deviating group, stressing that security men have performed a great duty and provided an honourable service for their nation. In his speech, he called on the society not to hide any criminals and they should provide tips-off to security men about any suspicious activity, demanding that citizens should protect the religion, security and stability. Sheikh Abdul Aziz described deviants as enemies of the religion, economy, nation, unity and leadership, calling on all believers to be united to combat all crimes. He thanked security men for containing the subversion of the deviants, indicating that the deviants have been led by their enemies. In Cairo the Chairman of Human Rights Commission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turki Ibn Khalid Al-Sudairi has called on a newly elected U.N. Human Rights Council to take the required measures for implementing its decisions to achieve security and stability in the region and protect human rights. In a telephone call with the Middle East News Agency (MENA), he said that the Kingdom, newly elected to the council by a large majority, feels the needs of the world today to enhance the pillars of international security and peace and to make human race avoid the risks of struggles and disputes. He emphasized the importance of uniting the sincere international efforts to eradicate poverty, demanding the creation of an appropriate environment that calls for tolerance, justice, equality and renunciation of terrorism. Hunger and poverty have a role in feeding the extremist thought, Al-Sudairi noted. He pointed out that the Kingdom has given a great significance to strengthen and protect human rights in a way that preserves the societies' special characteristics and moral and cultural values. In Amman King Abdullah II said that abolishing the cause for disunity amongst the adherents to the same faith and the same nation, is the first step towards protecting and uniting it. The King added, in a speech that was delivered at the opening of the Annual Islamic Fiqh Academy Conference by Prince Ghazi Bin Mohammed, King's personal envoy and special advisor on behalf of King Abdullah II, that the session is convened in a crucial stage of our nation's history, an era that challenges and threatens its existence, identity and civilization. ''This places on the nation's ulama and fuqaha an additional and tremendous responsibility'' King Abdullah said. King Abdullah II said that the third extraordinary session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference in the holy city of Mecca at the end of last year accorded the Islamic Fiqh Academy serious attention when it called upon the academy to confront religious extremism and sectarian fanaticism, and to emphasize the avoidance of takfir (declarations of apostasy) against the adherents to the schools of Islamic thought (madhahib). '' In the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, we, by God's grace, were among the first to show interest in dialogue between the madhahib. Ahl al-Bayt Foundation for Islamic Thought went to great effort in this field. These efforts have borne positive results, bringing the adherents of all the schools of thought together and enhancing cooperation and complementarily among them,'' The King pointed. King Abdullah II also called for working honestly and seriously, to eradicate terrorism, and expose this misguiding takfiri thought that is spread from several entities. '' We should show that this is a deviation from religion's methodology and from Shari'a. We are all called upon to exert every effort to lay down comprehensive solutions to all problems and challenges facing our Islamic nation,'' the King added. In the USA seven people were arrested in Miami in connection with a nascent plot that allegedly involved attacks against the Sears Tower in Chicago and federal buildings in South Florida, law enforcement officials said. The individuals, most of whom are believed to be American Muslim men, had been the target of an ongoing FBI investigation involving an informant posing as an Al Qaida operative. The investigation began more than a year ago. The men are believed to have discussed with the informant the possibility of attacking the 110-floor Sears Tower the nation's tallest building and the FBI office in Miami. But whether the plot moved beyond the talking stages or ever posed a serious threat to the public was not known. Federal authorities were not believed to have uncovered any bomb-making material or other weapons as part of the raid. One law enforcement official, who requested anonymity because the investigation was ongoing, said the arrests illustrated how federal authorities were rooting out threats at their earliest stages. Televised images of FBI agents swarming a warehouse in the Liberty City area of Miami highlighted the possibility of an unusual home-grown case of domestic terrorism. Officials offered few details about the case. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales is scheduled to discuss it this morning in Washington and to announce the unsealing of indictments. The U.S. attorney in Miami, R. Alexander Acosta, also spoke about the case. A federal grand jury in Miami has indicted the men on several counts, including conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. The material-support law has been a popular legal tool used by the Justice Department to cut down what it has viewed as evolving threats against the nation. FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, asked about the arrests while he was taping an interview on CNN, declined to provide details because of what he said was then an "ongoing operation." "Whenever we undertake an operation like this, we would not do it without the approval of a judge. We've got search warrants and arrest warrants and the like. And so yes, it's a concern," Mueller said. Mueller said the case was "an example of a close cooperation of ourselves working with state and local law enforcement to address a threat." At FBI headquarters in Washington, spokesman Richard Kolko said: "There is no imminent threat to Miami or any other area because of these operations." He declined further comment. Neighbours of the Liberty City warehouse told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel the suspects had said they were organizing a karate school. After blocking streets for about five hours, FBI agents used a blowtorch to take off the warehouse's metal door. Neighbours told the paper the suspects had said they were Muslim and had tried to recruit young people to join their group. Residents near the warehouse said the men, who appeared to be in their teens or 20s, had lived in the area about a year. They slept in the building, said Tashawn Rose, 29. "They would come out late at night and exercise," she told the paper. "It seemed like a military boot camp that they were working on there. They would come out and stand guard." She said she had talked to one of them about a month ago. "They seemed brainwashed. They said they had given their lives to Allah," Rose said. Connections to terrorists and terrorism suspects have been uncovered before in South Florida. Several of the Sept. 11 hijackers including ringleader Mohamed Atta lived and trained in the region for a time. In Chicago, police said the city had not been put on heightened alert, the Chicago Tribune reported. After the Sept. 11 attacks, the 103rd-floor observation deck at the Sears Tower was closed for several weeks. "Law enforcement continues to tell us that they have never found evidence of a credible terrorism threat against Sears Tower that has gone beyond criminal discussions," Sears Tower managing director Barbara Carley said in a statement Thursday.