Al-Qaeda Global Terror Alert: Saudi Arabia Arrests Yemen, Chadian Nationals, Alleged to be Planning Suicide Attacks
Two men, Yemeni and Chadian nationals, have been arrested in Saudi Arabia after they were found to have been allegedly communicating with the Yemeni branch of the terror network al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the country's Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
"They were discussing suicide terrorist acts - but it's not clear where or when those attacks would take place. We are still investigating," Maj Gen Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry, told CNN.
"We are trying to find out more about what they were discussing with other al-Qaeda elements outside the country," he said.
The two were found to have been holding conversations on social media forums, asking and exchanging information with terrorists abroad on how to carry out their suicide attacks in the region. The emails and messages of the two allegedly bore hatred and incitement.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Chadian national had been earlier from the country but was able to re-enter Saudi Arabia with a passport issued from another country.
Upon their arrest, local police authorities seized computers and mobile telephones which they suspect the two used to communicate with the terror group abroad.
Mr al-Turki confirmed the arrests were carried out in relation to the general warning issued by the United States this week for the Middle East region.
Read: Al-Qaeda Threat: US, UK Closes Global Embassies, Consulates Following Intercepted Terrorist Attack Message, Eyes on Yemen
Experts from the U.S. believed the AQAP has devised a unique explosive that's highly undetectable even by the most sophisticated scanners around the world.
Read: Global Terror Alert: Al Qaeda May Have Developed Highly Undetectable Liquid Explosive
"We have passed this information as soon as we got it to other possible countries that might be targeted -- to all the countries who are probable targets or whose interests are probable targets. We informed them all of the information we gathered," Mr al-Turki said.