Saudi security forces have arrested 13 Pakistanis and three Saudis suspected of having links to terrorists who blew themselves up during a weekend firefight with police, authorities said on Tuesday.

The Saudi interior ministry also identified the two terrorists who detonated explosive belts during Saturday's raid in the Red Sea city of Jeddah as Saudis Marzouk Anzi and Khaled al-Sourwani had both taken part in previous terrorist attacks in the kingdom, and Sourwani had links with the militant Islamic State (IS) group, the ministry said.

Authorities also seized arms and materials for making explosives from the building where the men blew themselves up, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

In late October, Saudi authorities said they had arrested eight militants and dismantled several “terrorist” cells linked to IS, including one that had planned to attack a major football match in Jeddah.

Those arrested included two Pakistanis, a Syrian and a Sudanese citizen.

Saudi Arabia is a member of a US-led coalition battling IS in Syria and Iraq. The kingdom has witnessed a series of deadly attacks claimed by IS since late 2014, mostly targeting the Shia minority and security forces, killing dozens of people.

Opinion

Editorial

May 9 fallout
Updated 09 May, 2024

May 9 fallout

It is important that this chapter be closed satisfactorily so that the nation can move forward.
A fresh approach?
09 May, 2024

A fresh approach?

SUCCESSIVE governments have tried to address the problems of Balochistan — particularly the province’s ...
Visa fraud
09 May, 2024

Visa fraud

THE FIA has a new task at hand: cracking down on fraudulent work visas. This was prompted by the discovery of a...
Narcotic darkness
08 May, 2024

Narcotic darkness

WE have plenty of smoke with fire. Citizens, particularly parents, caught in Pakistan’s grave drug problem are on...
Saudi delegation
08 May, 2024

Saudi delegation

PLANS to bring Saudi investment to Pakistan have clearly been put on the fast track. Over the past month, Prime...
Reserved seats
Updated 08 May, 2024

Reserved seats

The truth is that the entire process — from polls, announcement of results, formation of assemblies and elections to the Senate — has been mishandled.