More arrests in al Qaeda's failed attack on Saudi facility

BBC:

Five people have been arrested in Saudi Arabia on suspicion of involvement in a foiled attack on an oil facility in February, police say.

The militants were linked to the attack on the Abqaiq compound - the world's biggest oil-processing plant, said an interior ministry statement read on TV.

A tape showed the men allegedly preparing the cars used in the attack.

The tape and 1.5 tons of explosives were found in a warehouse outside the capital, Riyadh, the TV report said.

At the end of March, the authorities said they had arrested 40 suspected members of al-Qaeda, eight of whom were said to be linked to a cell that tried to bomb Abqaiq.

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For some months, al-Qaeda's leaders had been calling on their followers to attack oil installations, saying that the revenues from Muslim oil went to the enemies of Islam, our correspondent says.

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Al Qaeda's attacks in Saudia Arabia are a significant strategic mistake. Not only have the attacks largely failed, but al Qaeda has attrited its assets in Saudia Arabia and lost support in the country from whence it has previously drawn its greatest support. This is just another in a growing list of failed attacks. And, their successful attacks like 9-11 have resulted in their losing their base and many of their top leaders. The organization has been reduced to the power of a cockroach, who can fall into a few things and make a mess, but can't carry off anything big.