Saudi Gazette report

HAIL — Saudi security authorities seized about 55 tons of the highly powerful explosive TNT from terrorists in the past 21 years, Al-Watan newspaper reported on Tuesday quoting the Presidency of State Security.

The presidency said the explosives, which had a destructive power equal to an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 on the Richter scale, were capable of killing 13,000 people, destroy 4,000 buildings and cause material losses of more than SR13 billion.

The presidency revealed the statistics of the weapons of haul at an exhibition organized on the sidelines of Hail-Nissan 2018 Rally.

According to the presidency, a total of 1,096 terrorist plots were uncovered during the period, out of which 863 were carried out, resulting in 3,007 victims.

It said as many as 333 Saudi security men and 695 terrorists were killed and 346 others seriously wounded.

The presidency said 4,529 various fire arms, 450 Russian-made hand grenades, three Sam-7 missiles, 374 RPG bullets, 241 explosive belts and 47 tons of military ammunition were seized during the period.

Nine aircraft belonging to Saudi Arabian Airlines were hijacked, in addition to four hijack incidents over the Saudi airspace, between 1986 and 2013, the presidency said, adding that 63 people became victims of these incidents.

The exhibition displayed billboards revealing the Iranian role in financing terrorist groups as well as the crimes committed in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, in addition to continued attempts by Tehran to export its revolution and politicize the Haj.

The presidency said 3,002 people have benefitted from religious counseling, which showed a success rate of 85.8 percent.

It said 2,597 of people who received religious advice had repented and returned to the straight path while 14.2 percent of them had relapsed after attending the rehab program.