Five held over Riyadh bank raid

RIYADH: Five members of a criminal gang have been arrested after blowing up a bank ATM in Al-Jazirah district, south of Riyadh, and escaping with more than SR1.4 million ($373,333) in cash.

Six other men fled Saudi Arabia after the robbery on Feb. 15, smuggling SR500,000 of stolen money out of the country, according to Riyadh police spokesman Col. Shaker bin Suleiman Al-Tuwaijri.

A Saudi team specializing in criminal investigation identified 11 men involved in the bank raid, he said.

The gang included four Egyptians, a Bulgarian and a Russian, along with two Saudis and one Yemeni.

Five alleged gang members were arrested with a vehicle and tools used to carry out the theft, as well as SR700,000 in stolen cash.

Authorities are working to bring back the six men who fled the Kingdom and recover the remaining money, Al-Tuwaijri said.