Need for setting up the International Center for Combating Terrorism

RIYADH: The US admires the Kingdom’s role in discovering the suspicious packages found in flights from Yemen to United States and further states that it clearly depicts country’s willingness working against terrorism along with all the other nations.

Mustafa Al-‘Ani, head of the Anti-Terrorism Department at Dubai-based Gulf Research Center, said that we are clearly and strongly extend our hands of co-operation with other nations in preventing and disclosing terrorists plot around the globe. Al-‘Ani also emphasizes on setting up the International Center for Combating Terrorism.  He said King Abdullah first proposed the center at the International Counter-Terrorism Conference held in Riyadh in 2005.

While speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Al-’Ani said that setting up an international center would save time and effort by instant exchange of information as it happened on Friday when two aircraft packages were discovered which were destined for the US from East Midlands Airport, UK and Dubai Airport.

The White House observed gratitude on Kingdom’s help in providing timely information regarding threat originated from Yemen as stated by John Brennan, Assistant to US President Barack Obama and Deputy National Security Adviser for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

Al-’Ani further disclosed that the PETN explosive material in the packages was the same that was found last year from so-called “Christmas Bomber” Omar Farouk Abdul Mutallab, who tried failed attempt to bring down the airliner departed from Yemen. Later on Al-Qaida accepted responsibility for it.

PETN explosive has also been used in other Al-Qaeda-linked plans, such as “shoe bomber” Richard Reid’s 2001 attempted attack and, according to Saudi officials, Abdullah Asiri’s failed assassination attempt on Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs, in Jeddah on Aug. 2009.

The Ministry of Interior official further stated that in the last seven years over 220 Al-Qaida attacks has been presented by the alertness of Saudi Intelligence.

– Okaz/Saudi Gazette

By Muhammad Irfan Zafar

Content Writer