Saudis Detain Westerners for Alleged Links to Bombing

Published June 8th, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Up to three Westerners are in Saudi custody after being implicated in a series of bomb blasts that hit the conservative kingdom over the past six months, Al Hayat newspaper reported Friday. 

"Saudi authorities are currently holding some Westerners, whose number is not more than three, implicated in three bomb attacks," the Arabic daily quoted Saudi security sources as saying. 

"Investigations have shown they are implicated in an attack in Khobar in December and in two others in Riyadh in January and March, respectively," the paper said. 

The blast in the eastern city of Khobar targeted British citizen David Brown, wounding him in the shoulder, throat and stomach.  

Explosions were also reported in January and March in central Riyadh, one of them causing injuries. 

A mail bomb in early May seriously wounded an American doctor in Khobar, who lost his left arm and the use of an eye. He remains hospitalised in a serious state. 

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said Wednesday that authorities had identified the perpetrators of the bomb blasts. 

"We'll soon publish all the facts about the explosions... but the investigations are continuing to learn the details and to find out who ordered them," Prince Nayef said. 

Prince Nayef earlier reported that a Canadian citizen held since the March blast had been cleared of suspicion and released. 

Another series of bombings took place last November in the capital, killing a Briton and wounding four others. Another Canadian, two Britons and a Belgian are being held in connection with those attacks – (AFP) 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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