Saudi theatre stabbing was ‘ordered by Al-Qaeda,’- state TV

The suspect in a stabbing of performers during a live show in a Saudi theater last month acted on the orders of an Al-Qaeda leader in Yemen, Saudi state TV reported, without saying where it got the information.

Al Ekhbariya on Thursday posted on its Twitter account footage appearing to show a man storm a stage during a live performance. A 33-year-old Yemeni resident of Saudi Arabia was held after the November attack. The victims, a woman and two men, were treated for superficial wounds.

A criminal court has begun trial hearings on the case, according to Al Ekhbariya.

المحكمة الجزائية تبدأ جلسات محاكمة المتهمين في حادثة الطعن بـ #حديقة_الملك_عبدالله بالملز #الإخبارية_عاجل pic.twitter.com/KeuWSs3ido

— الإخبارية عاجل (@EKH_brk) December 19, 2019

Attacks by Al-Qaeda have declined significantly since a wave of bombings by the militant group in the early 2000s shook the kingdom.