SAUDI ARABIA

American detained on charges of breaching national security

Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — An American citizen suspected of involvement in activities that might compromise national security has been detained in Riyadh for questioning. The Tawasul (Communications) electronic window of the Interior Ministry did not identify the American citizen but it said he was being investigated and would be handed over to the concerned legal authorities if the suspicions against him were confirmed. Five Americans are currently being held in the intelligence prisons. One the men is serving a jail term after his conviction and sentence, while the Public Prosecution is preparing the lists of charges against two of them prior to producing them in courts Investigators are still questioning the other two Americans in detention. According to Tawasul, the number of the detainees held intelligence prisons accused of terrorism charges has reached 5,318. The majority of them are Saudis, followed by the Yemenis and Syrians.