Saudi disputes reports that ‘potential terrorist’ arrested in US was a citizen

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in the US has denied reports that a “potential terrorist” arrested in the State of Arizona last week was a Saudi national.

The 21-year-old was detained by Border Patrol agents on Thursday night after illegally entering the country from Mexico.

Yesterday, Yuma Sector Chief Border Patrol Agent Christ Clem tweeted that “The 21-year-old migrant from Saudi Arabia is linked to several Yemeni subjects of interest.” Although he did not elaborate further on the latter.

Based on the engagement with the relevant U.S authorities on this matter, the Embassy confirms that the individual mentioned here is not a Saudi citizen. We will continue to coordinate with the US govt and bring forward any facts on this matter. https://t.co/u81j7Bisa4

— Saudi Embassy USA (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) December 21, 2021

However, the Saudi Embassy in the US tweeted today that the arrested individual was not a Saudi citizen and stated that it had contacted the relevant authorities and will continue to coordinate with the US government on the issue.

The image shared of the man appears to show him wearing a jacket emblazoned with the US flag, and another patch that reads “Central Oneida County Volunteer Ambulance Corps”. The corps’ Chief Thomas Meyer told Fox News yesterday that the man had no affiliation with the New York-based organisation and added that he did not know how the man obtained the jacket, which is an outdated version of those currently in use.

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