ABU DHABI Ñ Saudi Arabia is said to have foiled a new wave of Al
Qaida attacks Ñ this time against the kingdom's oil facilities.
Saudi officials said 16 suspected Islamic insurgents were arrested and
accused of planning to attack targets in the Eastern Province. The targets
included oil and natural gas pipelines, petrochemical facilities and
refineries.
The Interior Ministry said the targets were in the Eastern Province. A
ministry statement said security forces also captured night-vision
equipment, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, weapons and explosives in
Riyad, Qassam and the Eastern Province.
Altogether, the ministry said, 20 tons of chemical substances for the
manufacture of explosives were seized. The capture was the biggest since the
May 7 raid of an Al Qaida hideout in Riyad.