Bin Laden family allowed into Saudi Arabia on 'humanitarian grounds'

Riyadh, Apr 29 (ANI): Saudi Arabia has accepted the return of Osama bin Laden's family on humanitarian grounds.

The Yemeni wife of former Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden along with other members of his family arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday after they were deported from Pakistan, News24 reports.

According to the report, a senior Saudi official claimed that the kingdom "dealt with bin Laden's wives on humanitarian grounds", adding that the authorities were confident that they and the children "were not involved in" the operations of the extremist group.

The family, believed to include three widows, eight children and one grandchild, were deported just days ahead of the first death anniversary of the Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The bin Laden family was due to be deported last week for illegally entering and residing in Pakistan, but was postponed until they had received their passports.

The family arrived at the airport from a house in Islamabad aboard a minivan on Thursday and entered the airport via a back entrance, following which they boarded a special flight to the Gulf kingdom. (ANI)