Saudi Arabia Says Attackers behind Al-Dawla Massacre Linked to ’ISIL’

Local Editor

Saudi Arabia said on Monday that the assailants behind the massacre earlier this month are linked to the so-called "Daesh" ["ISIL"] extremist group, including many jailed previously over suspected extremist ties.

The Saudi interior ministry said it had broken up the "criminal network" behind the attack in Eastern Province, adding that the group's "head had links with "Daesh".

Gunmen martyred seven people, including children, in the eastern town of al-Dalwa in the al-Ahsa district on November 3.

Security forces had since arrested 73 Saudis and four foreigners "linked" to the attack, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Security forces seized documents and electronic equipment that "revealed contact between this terrorist organization and "Daesh" abroad," the ministry said.

Moreover, the ministry said that three of the four assailants had served jail terms over links to the "deviant group".

It said that four men carried out the attack after martyring a man from a neighboring village and stealing his car to use it in the al-Dalwa shootings.

In total, 32 of those arrested had been previously jailed.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team