Saudi Arabia: Militant Arrested After killing Five Policemen
Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- Five Saudi policemen were killed on Tuesday during a shooting spree by a gunman whom security sources said was a wanted militant and who was later arrested.
An Interior Ministry statement, on the official Saudi Press Agency, said a security patrol east of Buraidah, in the central al Qassim region, came under fire at 9 am. Two police officers were killed in the exchange.
According to witness reports, two men in a white Toyota Land Cruiser VXR refused to have their car searched and shot the security men at the checkpoint.
The gunman fled the scene and sped 20 km southwest and stopped a passing car and threatened its driver. They drove off in the vehicle, a GMC Suburban, and were apprehended at a security checkpoint neat the town of Muznab , witnesses reported. Three police officers died in the ensuing gun battle.
Police pursued the car and opened fire, injuring the gunman, the Saudi news agency added. It was unclear whether terror suspect was killed in the clashes.
Al Arabiya television network reported that Mohammed Abdul Rahman al Suwaylimi was arrested in Buraidah, 360 km northwest of the capital Riyadh . He is the eldest brother of Ahmad al Suwaylimi who was killed in clashes with the security forces in al Mubarakiyah district in Dammam, in the east of Saudi Arabia, last September.
Mohammed al Suwaylimi’s name was 7 th on a list of 36 most wanted militants issued in June. With the capture of al Suwaylimi, police have now killed or captured eight of the 15-suspected militants believed to be in still in the country.
Al Suwaylimi, 23, is an Internet expert and was involved in recruitment and propaganda for Islamic militant groups in Saudi Arabia, al Arabiya indicated.
Saudi officials reported in September that police had killed al Suwaylimi with four others in gun battles in Dammam. But soon afterwards, al Suwaylimi released an audiotape on the internet saying he was still alive.
From an initial most wanted list of 26 militants issued in December 2003, all but one have been killed or captured.
Saudi Arabia has been battle a two-year wave of bombings and shootings by supporters of al Qaeda. The last major attack took place nearly a year ago and security forces have since killed several leading militants in clashes.
The Interior Ministry indicated today’s incidents were still under investigation and more information would be released later.
Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities. Launched in London in 1978, Asharq Al-Awsat has established itself as the decisive publication on pan-Arab and international affairs, offering its readers in-depth analysis and exclusive editorials, as well as the most comprehensive coverage of the entire Arab world.
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