Friday, Nov 07, 2003
A suspected Islamic militant blew himself up in Mecca yesterday during a series of raids that left at least three men dead in Islam's holiest city and the Saudi capital Riyadh this week, Saudi Arabian authorities said.
The Mecca raid was the city's second this week. Authorities have intensified security amid growing concerns that militants linked to al-Qaeda - whose stated aims include the overthrow of the Saudi royal family - may be planning attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, which began nearly two weeks ago.
Yesterday at dawn police raided a suspected hideout in Riyadh, shooting dead one militant. The Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying eight policemen had been injured and an unspecified number of militants had escaped.
The interior ministry said on Tuesday that police had foiled a plot to target Muslim pilgrims in Mecca. Five people - four Saudis and a Nigerian - allegedly linked to the plot were arrested. Yesterday the ministry said the Mecca militants had intended to use a huge amount of explosives and rocket-propelled grenades.
Jamal Kashoggi, adviser to Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to London, said it was uncertain whether the presence of militants in Mecca meant that they were planning attacks there or in Jeddah, less than an hour's drive away.
According to Saad al-Fagui, a Saudi dissident based in London, al-Qaeda is planning attacks in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan. He said several of those captured during previous raids had admitted this was the strategy and that the government had responded by stepping up security.
By MARK HUBAND
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