Two held in Saudi bomb inquiry

Bombings have been linked to liquor smugglers

Two people suspected of being linked to bombings attacks on British citizens, have been arrested by Saudi Authorities,.

It was reported on Wednesday that Saudi police have held a Lebanese man and a Belgian man living in the capital Riyadh, as part of an investigation into a group suspected of smuggling illegal liquor and selling it in the kingdom.

The Saudi newspaper al-Hayat reported that officers are investigating the possibility that the same group could be behind the bombings.

Islamic law bans the sale of alcohol in Saudi Arabia but there is a blackmarket and gangs have used extreme violence to protect their interests.

The newspaper said a Belgian embassy spokesman had confirmed a Belgian man had been arrested. He cast doubt on the possibility that he might be linked to the bombings.

Juice carton

Briton David Brown, 32, was blinded in one eye in the eastern town of al-Khobar last Friday when a juice carton left on the windscreen of his car exploded.

The recent spate of bombings began when Briton Christopher Rodway, 48, was killed and his wife wounded when their car exploded in Riyadh on 17 November.

Four days later, three Britons and an Irish woman were injured in a second attack in the capital.

Saudi Arabian officials say a number of suspects, including an American citizen, have been detained in connection with the attacks.