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NEWS ARCHIVE·DEATH PENALTY·FEBRUARY 27, 2002
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is trying seven foreigners accused of...

Saudi Arabia is trying seven foreigners accused of bomb attacks that raised fears of anti-western terror in the kingdom, the interior minister said

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Saudi Arabia is trying seven foreigners accused of bomb attacks that raised fears of anti-western terror in the kingdom, the interior minister said.
"Their case is now before the judiciary," Prince Nayef told the Saudi Okaz newspaper in an interview, about the five Britons, a Belgian and a Canadian.
He did not give further details. Deputy Interior Minister Prince Ahmed had previously linked the attacks to score-settling between people involved in illegal activities such as the lucrative alcohol smuggling trade.
If convicted, the seven suspects face execution by beheading under Saudi Arabia's Islamic law.
In interviews broadcast on Saudi state television in 2001, four Britons, a Canadian and a Belgian confessed to involvement in the attacks, carried out in November and December 2000 and March 2001. A Briton was killed in one of the attacks and several people were injured in the bombings.
The state-appointed defence lawyer Salah al-Hejailan said at the time that a fifth Briton had also been charged but gave no details.
He also said that the Canadian was undergoing psychiatric treatment and was unfit for trial.
The five Britons, whom Hejailan did not name, were to stand trial for bombings that occurred in the capital Riyadh. Four were named as Alexander Mitchell, James Cottle, Les Walker and James Lee. The fifth Briton was not identified.
SOURCES
  • (Sources: Reuters, 27/02/2002)