Mansour Al-Shihri

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The Special Court sentenced to death five terrorists from one of the biggest terrorist cells known as the cell of 85 (Turki Al-Dandani) that was behind the three blasts in Riyadh in 2003 (1424H). The blasts resulted in the death and injury of 129 people including children, women and men.



After three years of litigations, the court issued its verdicts Sunday against 42 defendants forming the first batch. The court issued death penalties against defendants No. 10, 12, 16, 36 and 39 while the rest of the defendants (37) received various prison sentences ranging between three and 35 years. They were also banned from traveling abroad for similar periods to their jail sentences.



The main charges against the five defendants No. 10, 12, 16, 36 and 39 beginning with the 10th included breach of trust during work as a private in Al-Hayer Prison, as he sheltered one of the wanted terrorists and participated with a number of people in confronting security personnel in Al-Roushan apartments.



He fired at security personnel and then escaped from the scene. He was in possession of a pistol and a hand grenade before and after the Al-Roushan confrontation and received training in sabotage against the country. Other charges against the terrorists included joining Al-Qaeda and enabling its members to fight against security personnel.