5,000 held in Saudi state security jails: Press report

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar

Following a string of recent arrests, the number of people languishing in Saudi state security prisons now stands at more than 5,000, local media reported Monday.

Detainees include 4,419 Saudi nationals, 68 Egyptians, 315 Yemenis, 204 Syrians, 18 Jordanians, 13 Bahrainis and five Iraqis, prominent Saudi daily Okaz reported.

According to the newspaper, 91 people of varying nationalities have been detained by the Saudi authorities within the past two months alone.

The newspaper went on to note that, since 1979, 841 “terrorist operations” had been carried out in the oil-rich kingdom, while a total of 233 “terrorist plots” had been thwarted by the authorities.

More than 3,000 people -- including 333 security personnel -- had been killed in these operations, while 695 militants were killed by Saudi security forces, according to Okaz.

The Saudi authorities have yet to comment on the newspaper’s assertions.