One-tonne bomb seized in Saudi Arabia

Reuters ^ | November 28, 2003 | Dominic Evans

[witnesstothefall]

RIYADH - Saudi Arabia's security forces have found a pick-up truck packed with more than a tonne of explosives after raiding a militant cell primed to launch a "terrorist operation" in Riyadh, officials say.

State television showed footage of the truck, seized after a clash on Tuesday in which two wanted militants were killed, filled with the explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and gas cylinders to magnify the force of any explosion.

Officials say Tuesday's raid by security forces thwarted an imminent attack during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, less than three weeks after suspected al Qaeda bombers killed at least 18 people in a residential compound in the Saudi capital.

An Interior Ministry source said on Thursday the truck had 1,267 kg (2,790 lbs) of ammonium nitrate-based explosives in the back when it was seized. A further 1,377 kg of explosives was found nearby, along with more than a thousand rounds of ammunition.

Television footage showed a pick-up truck, painted dark brown and marked with military insignia. Authorities also showed what they said were forged emblems of state security agencies, and military uniforms.

Witnesses have said the attackers who struck on November 9 at the Muhaya compound on Riyadh's eastern desert outskirts got through a Saudi National Guard checkpoint because their vehicle had military markings.

The two men killed on Tuesday were Abdul-Mohsen Abdul-Aziz al-Shebanat and Musaid Mohammed Daidan al-Subaie, the Interior Ministry said.

Shebanat was shot and killed as he fired at security forces from the boot of a car while Subaie blew himself up with a hand grenade, it said. Shebanat's corpse and Subaie's mangled remains were also shown on television.

Security forces were still hunting down an unspecified number of militants who escaped, the ministry said.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, has cracked down heavily on suspected Muslim militants since May, when triple suicide bombings in Riyadh killed 35 people. It says Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network is trying to topple the royal family which rules the world's biggest oil exporter.

Newspapers hailed Tuesday's clash as the fourth success by security forces this year in thwarting planned attacks.

Authorities have announced huge arms seizures in recent months across the kingdom, including the holy city of Mecca, where Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz said militants were planning attacks against Muslim pilgrims.

But much of the country remains on guard.

In the capital, extra concrete blocks were put round the Faisaliah tower -- one of two landmark skyscrapers -- over the three-day Eid holiday. Some hotels tightened security and expatriate compounds kept up high defences against attack.

[witnesstothefall]

The Democrats will be extremely disturbed and disgruntled to realize, the War on Terror is just getting started.

And Bush explicitly told us it would be a long war, lo these two years ago.

[witnesstothefall]

It has also been revealed today that the bombs used in Turkey were ammonium nitrate bombs like this one.

[Dog]

Holy moly.

[ChadGore]

ROPMA

[oceanview]

all these stories tonight: the UK, Italy, now this one. that guy caught in Yemen is talking.

[Dog]

Someone is singing ....

[tet68]

Yes, he told us it WoULD be a long war then and he hasn't
stopped trying to let the nation know what we face.
Here is my post from the 25th regarding his remarks about the military appropriations bill.

Now hear this, Now hear this. All Hands.
Since the beginning, our President has warned us (and in no uncertain terms, I might add.) that this struggle will be a long and difficult one. Liberals and their associated ilk refuse to accept the reality of the situation, continuing to attack the man instead of the enemy. Here again we see our President laying the ground work for what we must face, and telling us what we must prepare for.

"......to prepare our military for all that lies ahead."

Note to liberal slackers, no sniveling later, there WILL be a test.

Carry on.

Tet68 out.

[First_Salute]

Saudi's suddenly get religion.

[FreedomPoster]

I thought that was the root of the problem.

[Darksheare]

FAPL ping.
Looks like they had a Mk82 slick equivalent.
That's less stuff they have to worry about being set up as IED's elsewhere.

Of course, the mortarmen are still out there.

[Darksheare]

Yes, Saudi Arabia, home to part of the support of the terrs elsewhere.

[Libloather]

Maybe Hillary can really do some good over there by disarming these terrorist jokers. (All the while she could be out of our hair - eh?)

[ConservativeMan55]

Somebody is singing alright. I agree.

[ConservativeMan55]

I betcha that guy from Yemen is singing.

[Darksheare]

Yeah he's singing.
440AC opera...

[U S Army EOD]

Looks like they are making there own. I doubt if many other countries like us are monitoring the sell of fertilizer. "Farms" could buy a lot of enriched ammonia nitrate from Europe or Russia.

[Darksheare]

Agreed.
They got really close to pulling this off with roughly a 2000 pound bomb, on a truck, with uniforms and fake ID.
*snort*
And the saudis actually did grab them.
Makes me wonder why?
Saud LOVES terrorism and supports it.
So why they stopped this one kinda doesn't fit with what they've done in the past.
Some kinda power play within the terr support structure?

[river rat]

I suspect an old standby Randall made Model 14 - tip, parked in one nostril...
Has an amazing effect on openness, cooperation and truthfulness....

I'm sure some old farts know the drill of which I speak..
Semper Fi

[Darksheare]

Especially with the 'empty chamber click' function check?
That's evil!

[BenLurkin]

Perhaps this kind of Randall is what he meant: