Saudi forces arrest 77 people affiliated with ISIL - spokesman

RIYADH, Nov 24 (KUNA) -- Saudi security authorities arrested 77 people in connection with the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL), while apprehending four others who were directly involved in an attack in the eastern Ahsa' province, the Interior Ministry announced Monday.
Four Saudi citiznes were arrested because of their involvement in the recent "terrorist" attack against the Dalwa village in Ahsa' province, a ministry spokesman said in a statement cited by the official SPA news agency.
Armed men killed a citizen and stole his car, he said, and used it in the November 3rd Dalwa attack in which seven innocent civilians were killed and 13 others injured.
Some perpetrators were arrested and investigations led to a criminal network spearheaded by a Saudi citizen affiliated with ISIL, said the spokesman.
The network leader has been receiving orders from abroad, and was ordered to carry out the attack, he said. The leader selected three persons and all attacked the village.
The security forces carried out simultaneous arrest operations nationwide and arrested 77 people, noted the spokesman. Two Saudis and one Qatari were killed in the crack down, while many weapons were seized.
Among the arrestees are four expatriates: Syria, Jordanian, Turkish and a non-Saudi. (end) od.bs