Saudi Arabia: 7 Teroristic Cells with Suicide Attacks at Oil Facilities

Saudi Arabian security forces have arrested 172 Islamic militants belonging to seven terrorist cells and suspected to be linked with al-Qaeda, some of whom were planning suicide attacks on oil facilities and military bases using aircraft.

The militants consisted of several Saudi nationals and people of Yemeni and African origin, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

They had been planning terrorist attacks on oil facilities, refineries and military bases using aircraft, the Ministry said, adding, several suspects had trained abroad as pilots.

Security forces seized a large cache of weapons of over $5.3 million worth, documents, telecommunications devices and computers "exposing their thought and criminal goals," the spokesman said.