Saudi security forces say two ‘terrorists’ killed in Riyadh

Saudi security forces confirmed on Saturday that they had shot and killed two suspected terrorists in Riyadh.

A spokesperson from the Saudi’s Ministry of Interior (MoI) said that they traced the location of “a dangerous wanted fugitive”, Taie bin Salem bin Yaslam Al-Saya’ari, to a house in Northern Riyadh. The Saudi national was reportedly hiding there with an accomplice, Talal bin Samran Al-Sa’aeidi, another Saudi national, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.

Security forces surrounded the house – located in the Yasmeen neighbourhood – at dawn on Saturday and asked the two suspects to surrender. However, the suspects retaliated by firing and in turn, the security forces shot and killed both the men, MOI said. One security officer was slightly injured, but his condition is now stable.

Following a raid on the house, security forces found two explosive belts, one locally-made grenade and two basins containing chemical materials, suspected to be used in making explosives.

Taie bin Salem bin Yaslam Al-Saya’ari was “dangerous” and already on a wanted list, and was reportedly an expert in making explosive jackets, recruiting suicide bombers and training them, MOI spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki was quoted as saying by SPA.

Al-Turki said that militant group ISIL was “targeting Saudi” and had carried out over 30 attacks in the last year.

“We are keen to fight terrorism in all its forms,” he added.