Five dead in Saudi anti-terrorism swoop
Four policemen and a militant were killed in a shoot out in the Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, yesterday after security forces raided militant homes.
Raids started late Tuesday afternoon.
Following the suicide bombings on Western targets in Riyadh in May, which killed 35 people, including nine attackers, Saudi Arabia has stepped up its search for possible terrorists.
After the five-hour long street battle in the city’s Al Suwaidi residential district, seven alleged extremists were arrested on suspicion of links with Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda network, the interior ministry said.
A witness said security forces, backed by helicopter gunships, pinpointed five houses in the district.
On Monday, police arrested 10 militants, reportedly members of a terrorist cell planning to hit the British mainland.
But, the UK’s Foreign Office said Tuesday the suspects may have escaped.
