Riyadh, May 28: Saudi security forces have arrested the alleged mastermind of the May 12 suicide attacks in Riyadh as well as several other suspects of the al-Qaeda terror network, newspapers reported today. Okaz daily quoted informed sources as saying the arrests, including suspected mastermind Ali Abdulrahman al-Ghamdi, were made in the holy city of Medina yesterday when police stopped a jeep with the five men inside. Interior minister prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said the security forces had "detained a number of people a few days ago, and that yesterday (Tuesday) good results were achieved in Medina."

Nayef declined to provide details on the latest arrests or their numbers, telling reporters in the northern city of Tabuk yesterday night that the authorities preferred to wait until investigations had been completed.


Ghamdi is a member of the cell of 19 alleged terrorist whose names and pictures were released by the interior ministry only a few days before the Riyadh attacks that left 34 people dead, including nine bombers.

However al-Watan newspaper, quoting unnamed security sources, said atleast eight suspects had been arrested in the raid on two districts in Medina yesterday.

Ghamdi and two others were arrested at an internet cafe while the five others were apprehended at a house used by the men, al-Watan reported.


Saudi Arabia said the 19 militants were members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network who had planned to carry out major attacks in the kingdom. Bureau Report