Saudi Arabia sentences 18 over terror attacks

Riyadh: A specialised criminal court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced 18 people to varied prison terms for participating in terrorist attacks within the country, media reported. The men, who were part of a 50-member terror cell that had carried out attacks since 2003, were given prison sentences ranging from 10 months to 25 years by the court Wednesday, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The court said the group was among the most dangerous terror cells in the Gulf nation. All the suspects were convicted of charges of planning and organising terror strikes, financing terror and terrorist operations, possessing weapons and ammunition without licence, and other criminal offences.  The session was attended by ulema judges, general prosecutor, a representative of the human rights commission and media representatives, the SPA said. In addition to the prison terms, the 18 men were banned from travelling abroad for the same length of their jail term after their release. Those convicted were given 30 days to appeal against the court`s decisions. The court rulings follow a massive crackdown by authorities in Saudi Arabia where hundreds of terrorists have been sentenced for having links to Al Qaeda and its affiliated organisations. Earlier Tuesday, 17 suspects were given prison sentences of two to 25 years, while 14 others were sentenced Monday, including the death penalty for one man, and 13 others given jail terms of four to 30 years.