Al-Qaeda warns of retribution for Saudi’s execution of militants

Published January 11th, 2016 - 12:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Al-Qaeda has told Saudi Arabia it will pay for executing dozens of members of the militant group.

Although it was the kiling of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in the Jan. 2 mass executions that triggered a crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the majority of the other 46 people executed were al-Qaeda militants convicted of carrying out attacks in the kingdom.

"But they (Riyadh) insisted on offering the blood of the good Mujahideen as a sacrifice for the Crusaders on their holiday, in the New Year," said a statement issued Jan. 10 by al-Qaeda's branches in Yemen and North Africa.

In December, al-Qaeda in Yemen threatened to "shed the blood of the soldiers of al-Saud" if its militants were executed.

Last week, Daesh also threatened to destroy Saudi prisons holding militants following the mass executions.

Daesh has claimed responsibility for a number of bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia over the last year that have killed more than 50 people.

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