Saudi Arabia:
Islamic State blamed for plot; 93 are arrested.
An attack on the U.S. Embassy is foiled, reports say; 93 are arrested.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the arrest of 93 suspects with ties to the Islamic State group who it says were planning multi-pronged attacks on the U.S. Embassy, security forces and residential compounds where foreigners live.
The list of targets recalls a wave of attacks launched by al-Qaida inside the kingdom from 2004 to 2007, which killed dozens of people, including foreigners, and threatened the stability of one of the world’s most important oil-producing nations. Saudi Arabia is also home to Islam’s holiest sites, in Mecca and Medina.
Inter ior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said Saudi Arabia’s securi- ty forces are better prepared than ever to fight back against the Islamic State group. The kingdom is part of a U.S.-led coaliti on bombing the group in Iraq and Syria.
He said there have been five Islamic State-related attacks across the kingdom in recent months that have killed 15 civilians and security personnel. But he said Saudis have largely ignored the Islamic State’s calls to take up arms against their government and attack the Shiite minority, security forces and foreigners living in the kingdom.
“We do have a num- ber of people who do respond to such calls and do try to carry out such terrorist organizat i ons’ orders, but these people do not represent the Saudi population, do not represent the 20 million Saudis,” he said a day before the announcement of the arrests, which took place over several months.
Al-Turki said the security raids included a cell of 65 people arrested in March who were involved in a plan to target residential compounds and prisons. They also allegedly planned to carry out attacks aimed at creating sectarian strife.