Saudi Arabia Terrorism
Saudi Deputy to the Minister of Multilateral Relations Turki bin Saud al-Kabir heads the opening ceremony of the International Conference on United Nation's Collaboration with Counter-Terrorism Centers held, on February 16, 2013 in Riyadh. Getty Images

Saudi Arabia has arrested 88 people on suspicion of being a part of an Al-Qaeda team allegedly plotting terrorism attacks in the Kingdom and overseas, officials said.

A spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Mansour al-Turki, said that 59 out of the total people held on suspicion have previously been sentenced over similar offences.

They showed their support to the organisations in Syria and Iraq and also in Yemen, and they wanted to get involved in their activities.
- Mansour al-Turki, Spokesman for the Interior Ministry

The men were being monitored over several months before being arrested. Three of the arrested men are Yemeni nationals, one is still being identified and the rest are all confirmed as Saudi nationals.

"It is unfortunate that some of those who had completed their sentences and were released by court orders returned to their previous ways. They showed their support to the organisations in Syria and Iraq and also in Yemen, and they wanted to get involved in their activities," said Turki, reported Al Jazeera.

Officials in Yemen have said that several Saudis are crossing over the border into Yemen to receive rebel training and exchange funds.

Saudi Arabia has stepped up its security and warned its citizens against joining terrorist groups, reaffirming that Saudi Arabia is, "serious in tracking down" militants who join armed groups, noted Turki.

At least 29 people were killed and over 200 injured in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh in May 2003 when Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists carried out suicide bomb attacks against Western targets at three foreign housing compounds.

Several Americans and a number of other foreign nationals were amongst the reported casualties.

Saudi King warns West

The news come as a second US journalist was allegedly beheaded by the Islamic State militants in a video released by Isis (Islamic State) militants today (2 September).

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah warned on 30 August that the West will be the next target of the Jihadists unless there is "rapid action".

King Abdullah said on the Al-Arabiya television station on 30 August:

"If we ignore them, I am sure they will reach Europe in a month and America in another month. Terrorism knows no border and its danger could affect several countries outside the Middle East.

"You see how they (jihadists) carry out beheadings and make children show the severed heads in the street. It is no secret to you, what they have done and what they have yet to do."

Saudi Arabia