FRmail me to be added or removed from this pro-Israel ping list.
Posted on 11/12/2003 4:28:54 AM PST by Pikamax
Paper says militants rigged Koran with explosives Wed 12 November, 2003 08:06
RIYADH (Reuters) - Muslim militants planning attacks in Saudi Arabia's holiest city, Mecca, booby-trapped copies of Islam's holy book, the Koran, to kill and maim pilgrims, a leading Saudi-owned newspaper has reported.
The London-based daily Asharq al-Awsat on Wednesday quoted Saudi security sources as saying that this novel weapon was discovered in the arms caches police found after raiding militant hideouts in Mecca and the capital Riyadh in recent weeks.
Suspected al Qaeda militants killed at least 18 people this week in a suicide car bombing at a Riyadh residential compound housing mainly Arab expatriates.
Last week, police besieged militant safe houses in both cities and killed five Islamists in the clashes. In Mecca, police said they had found tonnes of explosives and rocket propelled grenade launchers, which Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said were to be used to attack pilgrims.
In July, police searching militant caches in Mecca found souvenir clocks resembling the Koran that had been booby-trapped.
Asharq al-Awsat said the militants had also stuffed explosives into water bottles, which pilgrims normally carry into the shrines, and that they were planning to dress up in wigs and women's clothes to become less conspicuous in public.
Women in Saudi Arabia, and in the holy shrines in particular, are required to wear loose, black cloaks that cover them from head to toe. Some women also cover their faces.
Saudi Arabia has launched a crackdown on suspected al Qaeda militants after triple suicide bombings in Riyadh in May killed 35 people, mostly foreigners.
Since then, Asharq al-Awsat said police had found a large number of meat cleavers and swords, which experts said indicated the militants were willing to hack their victims in the same style as Islamist radicals in Algeria.
The newspaper said the militants were also well-prepared to carry out assassinations and that they relied on surveillance cameras to avoid being caught.
Thank you, Reuters!
Without that lead, I would have naturally thought several six year old kids had done it.
If this gets traction, I'd say the tipping point has been reached. Al Quaida will no longer have the sympathy of 'the Arab street'.
Now if we just had something like this on the liberals... Too bad there's nothing that is Holy to them.
I didn't want you to feel ignored, so here goes ....... To get to the other side?
...tonnes of explosives and rocket propelled grenade launchers, which Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz said were to be used to attack pilgrims.
...souvenir clocks resembling the Koran that had been booby-trapped.
...stuffed explosives into water bottle...
...police had found a large number of meat cleavers and swords, which experts said indicated the militants were willing to hack their victims in the same style as Islamist radicals in Algeria.
Religion of Peace© bump!
FRmail me to be added or removed from this pro-Israel ping list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.