Saudi Interior Ministry: 8 Wanted Qaida Suspects Surrender

Eight Saudis wanted for alleged links to al-Qaida have handed themselves in to the authorities, the state news agency SPA reported on Sunday.

The surrender was overseen by the families of those wanted and a center headed by Deputy Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by SPA.

The center launched in 2006 aims to draw former al-Qaida militants away from radical Islamist ideology.

The interior ministry urged others "to return to their senses and to stop following those who seek to use them as tools."

On August 26, Saudi authorities announced they had foiled a terror plot by elements suspected of links to al-Qaida, mostly Yemenis, and busted two extremist cells in Riyadh and the port city of Jeddah.

They said the suspects were working on "recruiting elements to execute criminal attacks targeting security forces, citizens and foreign residents, as well as public installations."