Al-Qaeda Responsible for Riyadh Terrorist Act: Saudi Council Member
Fahd al-Harsi told the Mehr News Agency that this terrorist attack which took place in the holy month of Ramadan was planned and carried out by al-Qaeda terrorists.
In a bomb attack on a residential compound in the capital Riyadh on Sunday at least 18 people were killed, including five children, and 120 wounded. Most of the victims were Arabs. In May, 35 people died in a triple suicide bombing on a residential complex in the capital.
Al-Harsi said the Saudi police forces have found traces of al-Qaeda operatives in the blast and a number of the suspects have been detained for questioning.
Bombers posing as police blew up an explosives-rigged car in the Muhaya compound.
The deadly bomb attack in Riyadh bore great resemblances to the previous terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia, he said.
With a reference to previous terrorist acts in Mecca and other Saudi cities he said these attacks are launched by those persons who have no belief in Islam. The Saudi official also noted attributing terrorist acts to Islamic teachings is a very big mistake.
The London-based Arab magazine al-Majalla said al-Qaeda had claimed responsibility for the bombing and warned of more attacks in the Persian Gulf region.
It said it received the claim in an email sent by a hitherto unknown al-Qaeda member, Abu Mohammed al-Ablaj. The magazine identified Ablaj as the head of training in al-Qaeda.
On the recent reforms in the kingdom Al-Harsi said these changes are taking place by an order from King Fahd. The orders come from the king and Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz is only tasked with managing and implementing the reforms, the member of the Saudi Shura said.
These reforms will continue in the future and the purpose behind these changes is a comprehensive development in Saudi Arabia, underlined Al-Harsi.
King Fahd said on Monday his country would strike with an "iron fist" against militants threatening security and stability.
"(King Fahd) emphasized the will to combat terrorism and deal forcefully with such criminal and wicked acts and to get at criminals who commit such acts and whoever is behind them," a Saudi cabinet statement said.