He has allegedly secured help from Saudi charities to build some mosques and seminaries, from where the group is known to operate.

Prince Nayef's responsibilities involve regulating Saudi charities, and for years he has denied that Saudi Arabia has been a benefactor of terrorism.

The secret service has been conducting a more general investigation into Saudi charities since the late 1990's.

So far the authorities have not made public any evidence that money from Saudi charities based in Eindhoven was misused.

They have barred Saudi charities from sending money out of the country and have prohibited individuals from making anonymous wire transfers of cash.

A Saudi Arabian charity, the Muslim World League, provided early funding for the group.

It does say that unnamed wealthy Saudi sympathizers, and leading Saudi charities, sent money to the terror group.

In October 2001, the Treasury Department identified one Saudi charity on the 1996 list, the Muwafaq Foundation, as a Qaeda front.

A Saudi charity, Al Haramain, provides a good example of this dual role.

It has been established that AIO received donations in the past from large Saudi charities, such as the Al Haramain Foundation.