Saudi Arabia arrests terror suspects, seizes weapons in two raids

Saudi police officers defuse an explosive belt they found inside a car in Al-Dharma district, west of Riyadh, on September 15, 2015. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi police arrested two terror suspects and seized weapons and ammunition in two raids in and around the capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

A ministry spokesman said two Saudi brothers suspected of having links to an attack on a Shi’ite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia were arrested in Riyadh’s Al-Mounsiya after exchanging fire with the police.

Police evacuated the area and cordoned off the building where the two suspects, identified as Saeed and Mohammed Al-Zahrani, 21 and 19, respectively, were holed up before they surrendered.

A third suspected militant who was staying with the brothers is believed to have left the house just before the raid, a police source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The brothers have links to one of the 16 militants wanted by Saudi Arabia in connection with an attack that killed four at Al-Anoud mosque in the eastern city of Dammam in late May.

Also on Tuesday, police raided a house in Al-Dharma, west of Riyadh, where a bomb-making factory was found.

Three militants opened fire as they tried to flee in a car before it was destroyed by the police, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Police found an explosive belt, a large amount of money and weapons inside the car which had fake Omani license plates.

The militants eventually managed to escape in a stolen car, police said.

“The cell which consists of three individuals is being pursued by helicopters … and initial information indicates that one is injured.”