JEDDAH: Saudi security forces have arrested a Syrian expatriate and a Filipino woman suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Saturday.
A ministry spokesman was quoted as saying Syrian national Yasser Mohammed Shafiq Al-Barazi and the Filipino woman were not only living together illegally at a residential house in Al-Fayha'a district in Riyadh, but were also making explosive materials and suicide bomb belts.
SPA said the Filipino woman was identified as Gioi Aban Bali Nang and accused of helping Al-Barazi in sewing and preparing the explosive belts. She was said to be wearing a suicide vest at the time of her arrest.
Al-Barazi was also found to have rented another apartment in Al-Jazirah district as a safehouse for persons wanted by security authorities.
He was detained in a police ambush in the capital on Wednesday, the spokesman said.
It was after Al-Barazi's arrest that police then raided his bomb factory which they found had been booby-trapped.
“The house as a whole was booby trapped by the perpetrator with severe explosive materials, indifferent to the lives of innocent residents and visitors to the neighborhood,” it said.
After the house had been made safe, police recovered two explosives belts, 10 containers of bomb-making materials and two firearms, the ministry said.
Asked on state television whether Barazi was suspected of links to the Daesh (Islamic State), the spokesman said authorities “did not yet have sufficient evidence to make any direct connection with this terrorist group.”
A series of attacks claimed by the Daesh in Saudi Arabia this year have killed dozens of people.
In July, authorities announced that they had detained 431 people, most of them Saudis, on suspicion of involvement in a Daesh cell.
Saudi Arabia has taken part in the US-led air war against IS in Syria since September last year raising fears of revenge attacks.
(Additional input from Agence France Presse)
Syrian expat, Filipino woman nabbed in anti-terror raid
Syrian expat, Filipino woman nabbed in anti-terror raid
Al-Nassr survive Al-Shabab scare to end winless streak
- Al-Nassr made a blistering start, asserting their dominance inside the opening 10 minutes with two quick goals
RIYADH: The Riyadh derby between Al-Nassr and Al-Shabab headlined Matchday 16 of the Saudi Pro League with a thrilling five-goal encounter, as Al-Nassr edged their city rivals 3-2 to snap a four-match winless run.
Al-Nassr made a blistering start, asserting their dominance inside the opening 10 minutes with two quick goals. Within two minutes, the hosts exploited a gap in the Al-Shabab defence as a low cross intended for Cristiano Ronaldo was intercepted by Saad Balobaid, who inadvertently bundled the ball into his own net.
Eight minutes later, Nawaf Boushal, Angelo and Kingsley Coman combined down the left flank to carve open the defence. Wesley met the resulting cross and cushioned the ball into Coman’s path with his chest, allowing the French winger to double Al-Nassr’s lead with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
At that stage, Al-Shabab appeared stunned and struggled to create clear chances, with their only real threat coming down the right flank through Saudi youngster and former Al-Ittihad winger Hammam Al-Hammami.
Al-Hammami took advantage of Boushal defending on his weaker foot, beating his marker before delivering a low cross that Mohamed Simakan inadvertently diverted into his own net, reducing the deficit and giving the visitors renewed belief.
Al-Shabab grew in confidence and went close to equalising just before half-time when a deep cross caused problems in the Al-Nassr area, but goalkeeper Bento punched the ball clear to preserve his side’s lead at the break.
Imanol Alguacil’s half-time instructions had an immediate impact, with Al-Shabab dominating the opening stages of the second half. Al-Nassr initially withstood the pressure, but the visitors eventually found their equaliser in the 53rd minute.
Yannick Carrasco exploited space in the defence as Iñigo Martínez failed to track his runner, allowing Carlos Junior to break through on goal. The Brazilian kept his composure to slot the ball past compatriot Bento and level the score.
With a fifth straight game without a win threatening to derail Al-Nassr’s title challenge, head coach Jorge Jesus reacted by making two substitutions in the 65th minute, replacing Boushal with Saad Al-Nasser and introducing Abdulrahman Ghareeb in place of Wesley.
The decisive moment arrived in the 77th minute as Al-Nassr stepped up the pressure. Angelo again proved the creative spark, driving a low cross into the box. Coman’s initial effort was saved by Marcelo Grohe, but Ghareeb was quickest to react, firing home the rebound to restore Al-Nassr’s lead.
Al-Shabab pushed for another equaliser in the closing stages, but Al-Nassr held firm to see out the victory and return to winning ways.
Elsewhere in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Fayha and Damac played out a 1-1 draw, while Al-Ahli edged Al-Kholood 1-0 in Qassim thanks to Ivan Toney’s 74th-minute strike. The result lifted Al-Ahli into joint third place with Al-Nassr on 34 points, both four behind leaders Al-Hilal, who have a game in hand.
Saudi Pro League action resumes on Sunday, with Al-Hazem hosting Al-Qadsiah at 6:15pm. Al-Taawoun continue their push for second place against Al-Riyadh at 8:30pm, while Al-Hilal travel to Tabuk to face NEOM as they look to maintain their grip on top spot.
