JEDDAH – Saudi Arabia on Friday claimed to have foiled a major attempt to carry out an attack on the Grand Mosque area in Makkah.
Saudi Interior Ministry spokesperson Mansour al-Turki said on Friday that security forces in Saudi Arabia foiled a plot of targeting the Grand Mosque, Alarabiya news reported.
The security forces conducted an operation in Ajyad al-Masafi neighborhood, Makkah when a suicide attacker, who was hiding in a house, opened fire and later blew himself up, causing collapse of the building in which 11 people including five security troops were injured.
Three terrorist groups, two based in Makkah and the third in Jeddah, were planning to target worshippers at the mosque, it added.
Muslims from around the world reached the Grand Mosque this time of the year for the conclusion of the holy fasting month of Ramazan.
During the two operations, the security forces arrested five terrorists, including a woman, while further investigation is underway.
