Saudi Arabia Arrests 135 Suspected Terrorists: Interior Ministry

Saudi Arabia arrested 135 people suspected of terrorist attacks and plotting to sabotage security in the Kingdom, the majority of them are Saudi citizens, also the list included 16 Syrians, three Yemenis and one Egyptian, Lebanese, Afghani, Ethiopian, Bahraini and Iraqi nationals.

MOSCOW, December 7 (Sputnik) — Saudi Arabia arrested 135 people suspected of terrorist attacks and plotting to sabotage security in the Kingdom, the country's Interior Ministry spokesperson said Sunday.

“The security forces were able to pursue these terrorist suspects, who differ ideologically but are united through terrorism. This resulted in the arrest of 135 terrorists,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Maj.Gen. Mansour Turki was quoted as saying by Al Arabiya.

According to the official, the majority of the arrested were Saudi citizens. The list of the suspects also included 16 Syrians, three Yemenis and one Egyptian, Lebanese, Afghani, Ethiopian, Bahraini and Iraqi nationals.

Among the 135 arrested, 21 were accused of attempting to smuggle weapons. Another 54 are suspected of recruiting and financing terrorist operations, as well as making bombs and issuing propaganda materials to increase support for the militant groups they belonged to, Al Arabiya said.

The suspects were allegedly involved in joining and engaging in training of radical Islamist organizations outside the Gulf kingdom.

With the rise of the Islamic State group, which has captured vast territories in Syria and Iraq, Saudi Arabia has increased its involvement in counter-terrorism activities. In August, the kingdom allocated $100 million to the United Nations for establishing a Counterterrorism center.