Saudi forces arrest 17 suspected militants: TV

RIYADH — (Reuters) Saudi security forces arrested 17 suspected militants in a series of raids around Riyadh early on Saturday, state television said.

They also seized weapons and ammunition in the raids on 12 homes in the capital and nearby districts of Kharj and Mujamma, television quoted an Interior Ministry source as saying.

It said all the arrested men were Saudi nationals, but gave no details of their identity. Security forces also seized electronic equipment and printed material in the raids.

This is a story from the Khaleej Times out of the United Arab Emirates. I suspect it will be covered in the next edition of the Saudi papers, which come on line this evening. More when it’s available…

[UPDATE: The Arab News has its own report:

JEDDAH, 4 December 2005 — Saudi security forces detained 17 terror suspects including some linked to the Al-Qaeda terror network, in dawn raids carried out in Riyadh and two other areas, an Interior Ministry official said yesterday.

“All of the suspects were Saudi,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the official as saying. The arrests were made following raids in Riyadh, Al-Kharj to the south and Majmaa to the north, he explained.

“Some of the arrested elements took part in the activities of the deviant group (Al-Qaeda) while others are suspected of cooperating and sympathizing with their perverse ideas,” said the official.

The official did not say whether any of those arrested figured on a list of 36 most-wanted terrorists published in June. He said 13 suspects were detained in Riyadh, Al-Kharj and Majmaa while the remaining four individuals were picked up at undisclosed locations.

“No injuries or damage were sustained during the raids,” the official said. Security forces also seized weapons and ammunition in the raids on 12 homes in the three areas. ]