Saudi Arabia Sentences to Death, Prison Members of Terrorist Cell

Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
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Saudi Arabia Sentences to Death, Prison Members of Terrorist Cell

Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser
Saudi men walk outside the General Court in Riyadh, July 24, 2018. Picture taken July 24, 2018. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser

A Saudi court issued on Thursday death and prison sentences against 12 persons accused of forming an armed cell to illegally enter Yemen. One of the members was accused of killing two security officers at a border checkpoint.

The terrorist crime dates back to Nov. 5, 2012, when a border guard patrol in the Sharurah sector in Najran (southern Saudi Arabia) was ambushed by a number of persons armed with automatic rifles. The attack left two security officers dead, but the rest of the patrol was able to chase and arrest the aggressors as they were trying to cross the Saudi border into Yemeni territory.

A statement said that a preliminary verification of the identities of the attackers and their criminal records revealed that the arrested Saudis were previously detained for their involvement in crimes but later released. The statement added that they were attempting to join terrorist organizations in Yemen.

The court sentenced the first defendant to death, while the remaining members of the cell were handed prison sentences for periods ranging between 8 and 25 years. Charges against those included forming a terrorist cell to illegally enter Yemen, joining terrorist organizations to participate in fighting outside the Kingdom, possessing and using arms and ammunition to disrupt internal security, and committing terrorism financing as well as other crimes.



Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack at German Market

21 December 2024, Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg: Police emergency vehicles are stationed in front of the market in Magdeburg.Photo: Matthias Bein/dpa
21 December 2024, Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg: Police emergency vehicles are stationed in front of the market in Magdeburg.Photo: Matthias Bein/dpa
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Attack at German Market

21 December 2024, Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg: Police emergency vehicles are stationed in front of the market in Magdeburg.Photo: Matthias Bein/dpa
21 December 2024, Saxony-Anhalt, Magdeburg: Police emergency vehicles are stationed in front of the market in Magdeburg.Photo: Matthias Bein/dpa

Saudi Arabia condemned the ramming attack at a market in the German city of Magdeburg, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Police arrested a suspect in the attack, which killed at least two people and injured dozens of others on Friday evening.

The ministry expressed its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the government, wishing those injured a swift recovery.

Saudi Arabia also reiterated its firm stance against all forms of violence.