Saudi security forces have arrested 10 people who are accused of collecting donations and recruiting on behalf of militant groups, the interior ministry spokesman said Saturday. Last month, the Saudi Ministry of Interior issued a statement warning against collecting donations for groups not registered with the government.
"Security special forces, as part of their efforts in fighting terrorism and its funding, managed to arrest a group of people carrying out illegal activities including collecting donations illegally ... and sending them to suspected parties," Mansour al-Turki, the Interior Ministry spokesman said in a statement, cited by the AP.
Recipients of the donations used the money in "dragging the sons of the nation to disturbed places," the statement said.
Seven Saudi citizens were arrested Friday night while meeting in a house in the Western port city of Jeddah, according to the spokesman. Two other Saudis were detained in separate raids in Jeddah and the holy city of Medina. The spokesman said that the detainee are under interrogation. He also said that it is not clear yet whether they belong to al-Qaeda.
