Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — As many as 760 Saudis, who were supporting Daesh (the so-called IS), have returned to the Kingdom from Syria, Interior Ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki has said. "These people have either returned on their own initiatives to give themselves in to the authorities or were caught," he told a press conference at the Security Officers' Club in Riyadh on Sunday. The spokesman estimated the number of the Saudis currently involved with terrorist organizations in Syria to be more than 3,000. Al-Turki said those who turned themselves in voluntarily and those who were apprehended were receiving religious guidance at Prince Muhammad Bin Naif Counseling and Care Center. Al-Turki said the Daesh terrorist organization has no real leadership in the Kingdom and those who are locally involved with it are just coordinators. "Daesh will never have leaders in the Kingdom because the security organs are vigilant and are closely monitoring their activities," he said. He explained that Daesh elements in the Kingdom do not have leadership in the Kingdom who are capable of taking decisions to carry out terrorist operations in the country. "These elements receive and implement the instructions they receive from their leaders in hot areas especially Syria," he added. He said the number of the Saudis who travel abroad to join terrorist organizations was continuously dwindling. The spokesman said some fathers would turn in their sons for advice when they notice any terrorist inclinations with them so as to prevent terrorist organizations from recruiting them on social media. Al-Turki said about 70 percent of information on terrorists the security forces act on are received from citizens and expatriates through the toll free number of 990.
