RIYADH, Nov 18: A suspected terrorist was wounded and captured after a shootout with police in the Saudi capital on Sunday, a spokesman informed newsmen.

“Mohammad al-Sahim, wanted on security charges, tried to flee and shot at security forces who managed to arrest him after shooting him in the right leg,” a spokesman said.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz denied any policeman was wounded in the several-day hunt for the man who was wanted for terrorism.

Speaking to the Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) television channel, Nayef did not specify if the suspect had links with the Al Qaeda network.

“He is in hospital for the moment and will then be interrogated,” the minister said.

Nayef told MBC that reports that thousands of former Arab fighters from Afghanistan were in the kingdom were “exaggerated” and that the arrested suspect was the “only one wanted”.

The minister did admit, however, that non-Saudis were among the Arab fighters.

Saad al-Faqih, spokesman for the London-based Movement for Islamic Reform (MIR), said the shooting broke out as police tried to arrest a group of around 50 “young mujahideen” sympathizers of Al Qaeda who were meeting in a house.—AFP