Thomko Petro Chemical Blog

Over 200 suspected terrorists have been arrested by the Saudi security forces in a plot to disrupt the country's oil industry.

The terrorist plot involved attacking the kingdom's oil industry targets. The plot evidently had been planned for months, and preparations were being made to smuggle missiles into the country, which included the importing of eight rockets.

In addition to this plot, another group planned to assassinate clerics, along with members of the kingdom's security forces. Another 32 people were arrested who were involved in providing financial assistance for the terrorists.

Saudi security forces stated that more than half of the suspected terrorists were militants who had come into the kingdom from Iraq.

And the Saudi's have also warned the clerics to do more to stop Saudi Sunni's wanting to join the al-Qaeda militants in Iraq, and who also wish to fight the U.S. backed Shiite Muslim government.

Prior to the arrest of the militants, Saudi Arabia announced that a 35,000 security force would be created to protect the oil fields, pipelines and crude processing plants. So far approximately 9,000 have been trained. The kingdom is coordinating security efforts with neighboring countries to improve overall security for the oil industry.