Seven killed in Riyadh, al-Qaida threatens more attacks
Saudi Arabia, Local, 1/31/2004

Saudi Arabia announced yesterday that the number of killed persons in Riyadh confrontation between the security forces and wanted men increased to seven, six of them are security men, while a threat said to be by al-Qaida organization in the Arab Peninsula vowed to continue its battle with the Saudi authorities.

The prince of Riyadh area, Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, said that the number of persons killed in the Riyadh incident reached 7 security men, in addition of the father of one of those arrested. He said in a statement broadcast by the Saudi TV yesterday "the martyrs are seven, six security men who were killed immediately and one wounded who died at hospital in addition to the father of the wanted."

Prince Salman denied that the security forces broke into the house in the city. He said that the "statement which was issued from the ministry of the interior tells the real story. There was no breaking in into the house and there was no exchange of fire with those criminals," noting that the security forces did not expect to be attacked. He added "They ( the attackers) killed two police officers in addition to the father in front of the front door of the house. They then entered the house and killed three and wounded other three, one of them died today."

However, the Saudi ministry of the interior announced on Thursday that five Saudi security men and the father of a wanted in a security case were killed during inspection of the house of the wanted in Riyadh, while the terrorist was detained and other suspects and light weapons were found in the house.

Al-Qaida statement which bears the signature of al-Qaida organization in the Arab Peninsula under the title "Sawt al-Jihad" (the voice of struggle) said that "the Mujahideen ( the militant fighters) will continue their fight and force the nonbelievers to get out of the Arab peninsula." It threatened to punish those who fight the Mujahideen or defend the "Crusaders forces."

The statement talked about the Riyadh incident. It said that six members of the Saudi security men were killed while other two attackers were killed. It said that one of its members, Khaled al-Farraj, was arrested with his wife and son. It continued that al-Farraj's father was strongly wounded during the exchange of fire while other members had fled.

Previous Stories:
  Five Saudi Arabian security men were killed, one suspected detained   (1/30/2004)
  Riyadh: armed clashes between police and three suspects   (1/19/2004)
  Al-Jazeera daily: Saudi Arabian women riding a car detained after exchange of fire with police   (1/8/2004)

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