Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Saudi Ministry of Interior Has yet to receive evidence concerning the deaths of wanted Terrorists | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat- An official source from the Saudi Ministry of Interior confirmed that there is no evidence or concrete information regarding the deaths of any of the 36 most wanted terrorists. The statement was made in response to announcements made by the parents of some wanted terrorists that their sons had been killed abroad.

The official source reported that, &#34We spoke to the families before issuing the list and made enquiries regarding the whereabouts of the terrorists. They stated that they were unaware of their locations and only knew that they have been traveling for a long time.&#34 He also stated, &#34We have no confirmed information that any of the wanted terrorists have been killed. Whoever has any information should report to the nearest security center or contact us by telephone.&#34 As for the statement made by Abu Musab Al Zarqawi about the killing of the wanted Saudi terrorist, Abdullah Al Rushoud, the Ministry of Interior confirmed that no official information has been reported and that it will continue its search for Al-Rashoud.

Immediately after the issuing of the most wanted terrorists list, some parents of the 36 reported that they received phone calls declaring the death of their sons in Iraq. Some families said that their sons had been killed in fighting between Iraqi resistance and the Allied Forces in Al-Qa”im and Fallujah, whereas others stated that their sons had died in suicide operations. It was announced on a fundamentalist website that Fares Al Zaheri, whose name appears on the most wanted list, had died during the Hijri month of Shawwal and that his family has been receiving condolences for his death. Prince Nayef Bin Abdel Aziz, the Saudi Interior Minister, however, affirmed in a recent press conference, that no official information had been received about the deaths of any of the men on the list, which includes 15 wanted terrorists believed to be outside Saudi. In the same conference, the Minister welcomed the idea of security cooperation with Iraq against Islamists.

Official sources also indicated that the opening of an Iraqi embassy in Riyadh was drawing closer.