Homeland Security

Key Riyadh Bombings Suspect Killed in Shootout
VOA News
03 Jul 2003, 18:31 UTC

Saudi officials say a key suspect in the May 12 Riyadh suicide bombings has been killed in a shootout with police. Earlier reports said the suspect, Turki Nasser al-Dandani, had blown himself up.

Saudi Interior Ministry officials now say Mr. al-Dandani died during an intense gunbattle Thursday with police who had surrounded a house where he was staying in Saudi Arabia's al-Jawf region. The officials say three other terror suspects were killed in the shooting, while a fourth man reportedly gave himself up.

Saudi authorities have been searching for Mr. al-Dandani in connection with the Riyadh bombings and his suspected links to the al-Qaida terrorist network of Osama bin Laden. American and Saudi officials blame al-Qaida for the May 12 attacks, in which suicide bombers set off blasts that ripped through three housing compounds inhabited mostly by Westerners. Thirty-five people were killed, including nine attackers and nine Americans.

Saudi authorities since detained about 125 suspected militants in sweeps they say prevented more attacks in Islam's holiest city, Mecca. The alleged mastermind of the Riyadh bombings, Ali Abdul-rahman al-Faqasi al-Ghamdi, surrendered to Saudi authorities last Saturday.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.