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Saudi Arabia: Imminent Terrorist Attack Foiled | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Ministry of Interior Saudi Arabia


Riyadh – According to the security spokesman of the Ministry of Interior (MOI) MajGen Mansour Al-Turki, Saudi security forces thwarted, yesterday, an eminent terrorist attack and apprehended two explosive packed vehicles. During the fire exchanged with security men, the man believed to be the ring leader was reportedly killed. The clashes took place at a barren space located at the Asir governorate in the south-western Saudi Arabia.

Authorities now go over monitoring video tapes in hopes of tracking down those who placed explosives, which were later detonated, at the city street police center in the Al-Ahsaa governorate (east side of the country).

The MOI security spokesman Mansour Al-Turki explained that security forces chased two cars outside of Bisha Province, in Asir Region, pointing out that one of the two cars was loaded with explosives. He added that when the drivers felt that security men are following upon them, the two opened fire and drove into a barren desert area, where the security forces pursued them with the help of aviation security and exchanged fire with them.

After hitting the cars, the drivers went out and took defense positions at a mountainous site before detonating their cars, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Two besieged drivers refused requests to surrender, MOI Spokesmen added.

The two carried on heavy fire aimed at the missioned authority men. Security then responded similarly, firing off arms killing the drivers. The Incident passed without causing any injuries among the lines of security men.

The security authorities are still resuming operations, at the site, finishing verification processes of the identities of the two dead men, and will issue a detailed statement later on, given in this regard, including the outcomes, the spokesman concluded.

A security source allegedly claims that one of the terrorists is Qkab Al-Odyani. The man had taken part in the terror bombing which targeted the emergency forces in Asir last year. He was part of the terror group led by Said Al-Shahrani, which attempted to level down oil refineries in Abqiq.

Moreover, information indicates that Al-Odyani had, according to his father, suffered from psychological distress and had been previously arrested for tendencies towards extremism. Even though after arrest, and being sent off to a governmental rehabilitation center, Al-Odyani followed through with ideological radicalism and joined a terrorist ring.