By Ibrahim Alawi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — For the first time in the history of Saudi Arabia, a Chinese national suspected of terrorism has been arrested, the Presidency of State Security has announced through its Nafidha communication window.

The website did not identify the Chinese but said he was arrested on July 18 and was currently being investigated.

Over the past 10 days, the presidency has nabbed 15 people suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. In addition to the Chinese national, they included 10 Saudis, two Yemenis, an Egyptian and a Pakistani.

In June, as many as 109 terror suspects from eight different nationalities were arrested and they are currently under investigation.

Nafidha is an electronic gate established by the Interior Ministry for contacts between terror suspects under detention and their family members.

The window enables the families to make audio-visual communication with the suspects and also to make requests for visiting them.

Family members can exchange text messages, video clips and voice mails with the suspects via state-of-the-art technologies that preserve their privacy.