Saudi Arabia arrests 'IS militant' accused of killing officer

Riyadh has announced the arrest of a suspected IS-linked militant accused of killing a Saudi soldier last week, leading to fears of a growing IS presence in the kingdom.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

26 November, 2016

IS has claimed a series of bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia [AFP]

Saudi Arabia revealed the identity of a man accused of killing a soldier last week, saying he confessed to being a follower of the Islamic State group.

An interior ministry spokesman said the assailant was captured three days after shooting dead soldier Abdullah al-Rashidi on Sunday in the northwestern city of Tabuk.

"The culprit confessed to adopting the doctrine of terrorist [group] Daesh [IS]," the spokesman said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.

The man, identified as Hayel al-Atawi, said he "committed the crime in response to a call by the [IS] organisation to target military personnel", the statement added.

Seven others were arrested in relation to the killing, it said.

IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has called for attacks against Saudi Arabia, which belongs to a US-led coalition battling the IS in Syria and Iraq.

Since late 2014 IS has claimed a series of bombings and shootings targeting Shias in the Sunni-majority kingdom, as well as the security forces.