Massive Terror Bust in Saudi Arabia, Longtime Target of Al Qaeda

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April 27, 2007 11:49 AM

Al Qaeda terrorists planned suicide missions on oil facilities and military bases in Saudi Arabia, authorities there say. More than 170 suspected terrorists, some of whom were training to be pilots, were arrested today by Saudi security forces, they said.

Terrorist leaders like Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahri encouraged their followers to strike targets in Saudi Arabia. Bin Laden, who is Saudi himself, has long seen the kingdom as a traitor to Islam for allowing U.S. forces on their territory.

Bin Laden encouraged jihadis to strike Saudi Arabia in an online audio statement back in 2004.

"One of the biggest reasons motivating our enemies to control our lands is to steal our oil," he said. "Spend all the effort you can to stop the biggest theft in history of the wealth of the present and future generations."

Later his No. 2 man Zawahri also encouraged his followers to strike in Saudi Arabia, also at oil facilities.

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"I call on the mujahedeen to concentrate their campaigns on the stolen oil of the Muslims, of which most revenues go to the enemies of Islam," he said in an online statement.

The terrorists have listened to these calls. In 2004, terrorists stormed the U.S. consulate in Jeddah, killing five consulate employees. And in 2004, suicide bombers killed 34 people, including eight Americans at a housing compound in Riyadh. And of course, 15 of the 19 hijackers behind the 9/11 attacks were Saudis.

Saudi Arabia, however, has also been accused of turning a blind eye to terrorists on its own soil, especially Saudi-based charities that have been accused of providing terrorists with cash.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in a hearing last month described Saudi Arabia as a "problematic ally," suggesting that the Saudis still couldn't be considered full allies in the War on Terror.

"When it comes to fighting terrorism, the Saudis have again made some important progress, but more remains to be done," said Kerry. "But concerns remain, especially about the role of Saudi money in financing terrorist organizations and exporting an extremist ideology."

In addition to the arrests, police today seized weapons and more than $5.3 million in cash from several armed cells.

"One of their main targets was to carry out suicide attacks against public figures and oil installations and to target military bases inside and outside [the country]," said an Interior Ministry statement read on state television.

This post has been revised.