ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia has warned that a resurgent Al Qaida is using forged Saudi documents to
mount new attacks on the United States.
Saudi officials said the kingdom has received an alert that Al Qaida
insurgents are rebuilding their infrastructure for a campaign
against the United States and its allies. The infrastructure would include
the documents required for Al Qaida agents to slip into Europe
and the United States.
A Saudi Interior Ministry statement warned that nationals are being
approached for copies of their identity cards and passports, Middle East Newsline reported. The statement
said foreigners seek to adopt the identity of Saudi nationals for what the
statement termed were terrorist operations.
Saudi nationals comprised 15 out of the 19 attackers who hijacked U.S.
planes and drove them into the World Trade Center and the Defense
Department. The kingdom has acknowledged the involvement of Saudi nationals
in Al Qaida and has pledged to end this trend.
The ministry said the terrorists are offering Saudis money for the
documents. In other cases, the Saudi nationals are being approached for
business deals that involve the transfer of their identity documents. Often,
the approach is conducted over the Internet or via mobile phone.
"They will then use these documents and the names of their owners in
acts of theft and fraud or in terrorist operations," the Interior Ministry
said.
Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmed said his countrymen must
guard their passports as part of their national duty. The kingdom has
replaced its passports with that containing electronic barcodes.
"Citizens should take care of their passports abroad just as they would
look after their money and personal valuables," the deputy minister said. "A
passport is a very important document and should be accorded maximum
attention."
Gulf sources said the ministry warning reflected information relayed to
the kingdom by the United States. Saudi authorities have issued several
appeals for Saudis to end their cooperation with Islamic insurgents.
