The Saudi interior ministry says it has arrested five
people who planned to attack the Grand Mosque in
Mecca.
Mansour al-Turki, security spokesperson of the
ministry, said operatives stopped a plot to attack the
mosque on Friday.
Quoting security operatives, Al Arabiya, Saudi-owned
news website, said the operation was planned by three
extremist groups, two based in Mecca and the third in
Jedah.
“The first operation was foiled in Mecca in Assila
district, while the second was thwarted in Ajyad al-
Masafi neighborhood,” Al-Arabiya wrote in its report.
In a statement, the interior minister said the “terrorists
obeyed their evil and corrupt self-serving scheme to
destabilise the security of the country”.
“A suicide bomber, who was hiding in a house in the
Ajyad neighborhood, blew himself up after opening fire
on security forces and refusing to comply with calls to
turn himself in,” the report read.
“Unfortunately he started shooting towards security
personnel once he noticed their presence in the area,
which led to an exchange of fire before he blew himself
up.”
Turki said the blast partially collapsed the building
where the attacker had taken refuge, injuring six
pilgrims
He added that four had already been released from the
hospital and five security men were also injured.
Every year, people of various nationalities gather to
observe the holy pilgrimage in Mecca.
TheCable
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