Terror duo arrested in raid on Riyadh bomb factory

RIYADH: Security forces have arrested a Syrian man accused of plotting attacks and his Filipino accomplice in a raid on an illegal explosives factory in Riyadh, the Interior Ministry said, according to SPA.
The Saudi Press Agency reported Saturday that the two were arrested during a major security operation.
It said the Filipino sewed explosive belts for the Syrian, who arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2010. It also said she wore such a belt when the man was gone.
It said police raided their house in Riyadh’s Al-Fayah district on Wednesday, defusing the booby traps inside and finding two explosive belts, bomb-making equipment and a machine gun and ammunition.
It took security forces 12 hours to dismantle the explosive devices and evacuate the premises.
Another location, which the ministry said was believed to be a staging post for suicide bombers in the Al-Jazirah district, was also raided, but nothing was found there.
SPA identified the Filipino as Lady Gioi Aban Bali Nang and the Syrian man as Yasser Mohammed Shafiq Al-Barazi.
In another development, security forces raided two different locations in Dhahran in the Eastern Province and arrested seven terrorists on Saturday. The troops cordoned off the areas before launching the combing operations.
Five terrorists were arrested from the first location and two from the second.
Eyewitnesses told Arab News that there was an exchange of fire with the terrorists before they were apprehended.
There were no casualties, security sources told Arab News.