RIYADH – Two men standing trial at a special penal court in Riyadh on Tuesday were accused of planning to kidnap the children of princes and use them as bargaining chips to secure the release of arrested terrorists. The charges leveled against the men, alleged members of the Al-Nakheel terrorist cell, also included keeping potential assassination targets such as senior scholars, ministers, businessmen and journalists under surveillance. The prosecution demanded the death penalty against one of the men and a discretionary sentence against the other. The men, identified as defendants 6 and 37, were accused of carrying out armed robberies against several government vehicles and others belonging to Saudis, as well as an armored vehicle for carrying cash. They also changed the colors of the vehicles so they could use them undetected, it was claimed. Defendant No. 6 was accused of several charges including adopting the takfiri ideology (labeling Muslims as infidels) and describing the government as one of unbelievers. The defendant allegedly escaped from prison in Al-Kharj governorate along with several other terrorists, some of whom were killed in confrontations with security officers. He escaped with outside help from terrorist Ghazi Al-Otaibi, who was later killed in a gunfight with officers, the court heard. The terrorists allegedly escaped in Al-Otaibi's car and they had several Kalashnikovs and pistols they intended to use against policemen. The prosecution also leveled charges against several other defendants who were allegedly headed by the killed terrorist Muhammad Al-Julaidan. Al-Julaidan received a pledge of allegiance from the men before his death, the court was told. The prosecution accused Defendant No. 37 of planning to travel to regions of unrest in Iraq to join the fighting there without permission from the government. He pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden and praised Al-Qaeda, the court heard. He was also accused of claiming that this country does not rule according to Islamic principles. He joined a terrorist organization in the Kingdom and was planning to carry out terrorist operations, the prosecution claimed, adding that he provided cover, shelter, transport and funding to terrorists.
