Saudi Arabia’s has confirmed it was working with German investigators to track Islamist militants behind bomb and axe attacks in July. The news was originally reported by the German outlet Der Spiegel and confirmed in rare comments by a Saudi spokesman.
Saudi Arabia is quick to offer help to partners to fight terrorism, but rarely discusses such arrangements in public.
A spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry, General Mansour al-Turki, said Saudi and German security experts “had met and exchanged information over evidence showing that one of the attackers in Germany had been in contact through social media with a member of Islamic State using a Saudi phone number,” according to Reuters, which noted that while Saudi Arabia “maintains it is always ready to work with foreign countries to combat terrorism, but rarely speaks publicly on specific cases.”
Saudi Arabia is a global leader in counterterrorism intelligence given the constant threat the government and people face from extremist-driven attacks. In May, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington distributed a comprehensive document outlining the Kingdom’s efforts to fight terrorism.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Counterterrorism focuses on three main areas: security measures aimed at terrorists, financial controls designed to disrupt their funding, and efforts to end radicalization in mosques, schools and other public forums and spaces. The report is 104 pages long, and outlines how fighting terrorism is not only a national interest, it is a national priority.
Saudi Arabia has been quick to assist and exchange information with the United States, but discussion of its cooperation publicly with Germany is new. Germany, France and other European nations are facing a surge in terrorist attacks as a refugee crisis and resilient Islamic State has opened the door for extremists to strike in Europe.
In March, Germany approved the delivery of 23 Airbus helicopters to Saudi Arabia.
Germany gave pre-approval for the export of 270 Leopard 2 tanks to Saudi Arabia in 2011, but the deal was blocked by German lawmakers on human rights and other concerns, causing a split in the ruling party of Germany.
