Posted on 04/06/2005 5:44:01 PM PDT by mdittmar
Another top terrorist was killed yesterday morning after security forces raided his hide-out in the south of the capital.
Abdul Rahman Al-Yaziji, terror suspect No. 15 on the list of 26 most wanted in Saudi Arabia, was shot dead in the Southern Industrial Area of Riyadh.
A source told Arab News that security forces had received information about the terrorist’s whereabouts from terror suspects who were apprehended in Al-Rass two days ago.
The source added that security officers surrounded an old building in which he was hiding at about 9 a.m. yesterday morning and blocked off all roads leading to the area.
Officers then raided the building and a gunbattle between the terror suspect and police ensued.
After a three-hour exchange of fire, the suspect tried to flee the building on foot in a desperate bid to escape. He was shot dead after he refused to give in and continued to fire at police officers, the source added.
As a result of the gunbattle, a part of the building caught fire and firefighters had to be called in to put out the blaze. The firemen also helped police officers evacuate nearby residential buildings.
During the exchange of fire bullets hit many cars parked in the vicinity.
The Ministry of Interior issued a statement confirming the killing of the top terrorist.
The statement also said that the suspect “threw a hand grenade at security officers before he was gunned down”.
Abdul Rahman Al-Yaziji, 27, came from Jizan. He disappeared two years ago after his marriage. He was the cousin of terror suspect Abdul Kareem Al-Yaziji, one of the suicide bombers who targeted three Western compounds in Riyadh on May 12, 2003. It is not known where his wife is or whether he has any children.
The battle was the latest in ongoing clashes between suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists and security forces.
An intense 60-hour clash in the northern town of Al-Rass in the Qasim region, which broke out when security forces attempted to encircle a militant hide-out, ended late Tuesday with the deaths of 14 gunmen.
Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday visited the battleground in Al-Rass. Col. Muhammad Al-Shahrani, commander of special forces in Qasim, briefed the minister on the three-day clashes with the militants as well as on the efforts being made to cleanse the area of explosives and collect criminal evidences. Prince Naif also watched a variety of weapons seized from the terrorists during the operation.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd sent a message of appreciation to Prince Naif, commending the efforts of security forces in combating terror. “You have proved to the world that there is no place for such corrupt people in our country,” the king told the officers.
Security was tight in Al-Rass and holicopters were seen hovering above the whole day. Citizens were not allowed to enter the area until all the necessary precautions had been taken, said a security source.
Brig. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, told Arab News that the cleansing operation would take some time. “We’ll allow residents to enter the town only after completing the cleansing process for their own safety,” he said.
He said the use of rocket-propelled grenades and explosives by the terrorists had caused damage to houses and other buildings in the area.
Some schools in the area remained closed for the third consecutive day while others reported poor attendance. “We have postponed mid-term examinations till next week,” said Mohammad Rashed Al-Gufaily, the headmaster of the Al-Shafie Primary School.
Meanwhile, a source told Arab News’ sister publication Asharq Al-Awsat that many of the terrorists who surrendered in Al-Rass two days ago told police that they did not know which city they were in because they were smuggled into the city disguised in black abayas.
The incident is not the first where terrorists have abused the Saudi female traditional dress to escape being searched at checkpoints and travel freely between cities in the Kingdom.
Last year in a raid that took place in Al-Jazirah district in Riyadh, some terrorists fled the scene in black abayas. And a large number of abayas were found in raids on terror cells in Makkah, Madinah, Taif and Qasim.
Yesterday’s killing put the number of terror suspects killed by security officers in the Kingdom in the past three days in a row to 15. They included Abdul Kareem Al-Majati and Saud Al-Otaibi, two most wanted terrorists.
With Al-Yaziji’s killing, the number of terrorists still on the run from the list of 26 is now down to three — Saleh Al-Aufi, the alleged Al-Qaeda commander in Saudi Arabia’s Talib Al-Talib, and Abdullah Al-Rashoud.
Oooooooooooooooooooooo-Raaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!
Kick ass, take names, SSS™.
I swear I would be rooting for the terrorists under different circumstances, but they always go after western workers rather than the perfidious princes themselves. Robert Baer wrote "Sleeping with the Enemy" about the long U.S. - Saudi relationship and how vulnerable the oil infrastructure is to terrorism but if they were going to blast it they could have done so years ago.
I'd rather they take some prisoners rather than killing off every witness to the Saudi royal family's involvement in funding Osama.
Good news bump!
Cool ping
Maybe you ought to rethink that policy, dudes. Make the women of Saudi Arabia show a little cleavage.
excellent. Pile the scum up like cordwood!
"So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehn, Good bye..."
When you become a virgin for the "ilustrious leader of Palestine", B@st@rd Imafag, just remember who sent you there.
Wow a whole 23 terrorists in two years! and they're right in your own back yard. Man that's almost 1 a month, you saudis really know how to kick some butt! /sarc
Bye Bye Sonovabitch
Hi, FLe -- did you get this one? >> Another top terrorist was killed yesterday morning after security forces raided his hide-out in the south of the capital.
Abdul Rahman Al-Yaziji, terror suspect No. 15 on the list of 26 most wanted in Saudi Arabia, was shot dead in the Southern Industrial Area of Riyadh.
I hope they "receive" more information.
He probably didn't want to be on the "giving" end of information destined for the "receiving" end of the equation.
My kids get out of school for too much snow. Another reason why it's great to be an American.
Allahu Fubar!
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.