Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — The first trial session of two Egyptian nationals, who were supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda, started recently at the Specialist Criminal Court in Riyadh.

They were involved in the planning to assassinate a Saudi prince and Arab leaders at a hotel in Makkah, as well as several foreigners in Jeddah.

The Public Prosecutor demanded stiff penalties for the two defendants. He also demanded deporting them after the completion of their prison terms.

The Public Prosecutor leveled 13 charges against the two defendants.

There were nine charges against the first defendant, who was working in a Makkah hotel. They included supporting Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood, intending to harm some leaders of Arab countries, planning to target a Saudi prince and some military commanders of an Arab country, conniving with another person, who is under detention by the Egyptian authorities, in carrying out these acts.

The charges also include planning to kill a number of foreigners in a Jeddah hotel, attempts to steal weapons, manufacturing of explosives, purchasing chemicals for terror operations in the Kingdom, traveling to Egypt to get training in using arms, manufacturing of explosives and carrying out terror operations in the Kingdom.

There were four charges against the second Egyptian, who was working as manager of internal supervision in a Makkah hotel.

The charges include supporting Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood, attempt to target the minister of interior of an Arab country during his stay in a hotel in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, getting training in Egypt in weapons use and manufacturing of explosives.