Author: Andy Geller
Publication: New York Post
Date: May 19, 2003
URL: http://www.nypost.com/news/worldnews/76056.htm
Hours after capturing four suspected
al Qaeda members in last week's bombings at three housing complexes, Saudi
Arabian officials admitted that members of their country's National Guard
are being investigated for selling arms to the terror group.
According to a report in today's
Washington Post, Saudi authorities raided an al Qaeda safe house on May
6 and seized weapons that were traced to the country's own stockpiles.
Past audits of National Guard armories
have revealed missing weapons, but there has been no crackdown on illicit
arms trade.
U.S. officials told the paper that
they hope that this latest report will "focus [the Saudis'] attention"
on ending illegal arms sales to al Qaeda.
The Saudi interior minister, Prince
Nayef, said the four bombing suspects arrested in the last three days were
not directly involved in the attacks, but had advance knowledge.
"All indications point" to al Qaeda,
he said.
Thirty-four people, including eight
Americans, were killed in Monday's blasts at three Riyadh complexes that
mostly housed foreigners.
Nayef said the four men - as well
as three of the nine suicide bombers - were part of a group of 19 involved
in the weapons seizure.
The 19 received orders directly
from Osama bin Laden and were planning to use the seized weapons to attack
the Saudi royal family and American and British interests, officials said.
Investigators have now identified
a total of five attackers, Nayef said.
"We still need some time to identify
all the characters," he said.
Nayef said no connection had been
confirmed between the Riyadh blasts and Friday's attacks in Casablanca,
which killed 41, including the 13 bombers.
Nayef vowed Saudi Arabia would protect
its citizens and foreigners, but said there was no guarantee another attack
could not take place.
With Post Wire Services
