Saudi forces kill five terror suspects

SAUDI security forces yesterday shot dead five suspected terrorists believed to be involved in a foiled attack on the world’s biggest oil processing complex, the Saudi Interior Ministry said.

A sixth suspect was arrested.

The shootings came after security forces raided two houses in the Saudi capital of Riyadh that had been under surveillance, said ministry spokesman Lt Gen Mansour al-Turki.

The suspects were killed during a shootout, the ministry said.

“We think all the men involved had something to do with Abqaiq attempt,” Mr al-Turki said, referring to Friday’s attempt by suicide bombers to detonate car bombs inside the world’s biggest oil stabilisation plant.

The Saudi branch of al-Qaida claimed responsibility for Friday’s attack, the first ever on Saudi Arabia’s vital oil infrastructure. The attack was foiled when security guards fired at two cars laden with explosives outside the gates to Abiqaiq.

Two guards and two would-be suicide bombers were killed. The Interior Ministry identified the attackers Sunday as Abdullah Abdul-Aziz al-Tweijri and Mohammed Saleh al-Gheith, and said both were on a list of the 15 most-wanted terrorists the kingdom issued in June.

The deaths of the two meant that only four remain at large of the list of 15. Ten have now died or been killed and one has been arrested.