Saudi Arabia has revealed the enormous scale of the threat to the kingdom by putting on show an arsenal of weapons and 24 tons of explosives seized in a major crackdown on Islamist hard-liners. The authorities again vowed Tuesday to wipe out âall the terrorist cellsâ as state television replayed astonishing footage of enough military materiel to equip a small army.
| Have they cut anybody's head off yet?... Didn't think so. |
At the same time, confessions by seven Saudi âmembers of terror cellsâ said to be involved in suicide bombings that left 52 dead last year were also aired. An Interior Ministry statement said that some 300 explosives belts as worn by suicide bombers and nearly 24 tons of explosive materials had been uncovered as part of the âwar on terrorâ over the previous six months. The statement also said that security forces had seized 1,020 weapons such as Kalashnikov assault rifles and other arms, more than 352,300 rounds of ammunition and 674 detonators âfor use in 350 bombings.â Communications equipment, timers and equipment to set up truck bombs were also seized. Television pictures showed the arsenal laid out on the floor. Security forces also seized more than 300 rocket-propelled grenades and launchers and more than 430 hand grenades, some locally made and others produced abroad.
| "You ain't a man without a gun in your hand!" |
The ministry statement said security forces had detained âa large numberâ of people used as âterror tools,â without giving specific numbers, as well as other suspects. âWe are determined to go on hunting for criminals and wiping out all the terrorist cells,â said the statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. âThe ministry will show no leniency to those who sponsor these criminals, support them or finance them,â it warned.
| We're still waiting for the heads to roll. We're still waiting to see the holy men in the dock... |
The ministry picked up on previous official declarations that terrorists following a âdeviantâ Islamic ideology claiming to be inspired by Wahhabi Islam, the strict Muslim doctrine implemented in Saudi Arabia, are seeking to overthrow the house of Saud. âAll the terrorist aggressions committed in the kingdom have been perpetrated by people carrying deviant ideas which they seek to impose through terror,â the statement said. It also carried ârecorded remarksâ of the âmembers of terror cellsâ about their activities. |