Saudi Arabia foils terror attack in Mecca

By: Abdulali

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Minister for Interior affairs Prince Nayef revealed Tuesday his country had thwarted a terror attack on pilgrims in the holy city of Mecca which houses the holy Ka’abah.

Talking to the leading newspaper Saudi al-Riyadh, he said: “These people are targeting the holy month of Ramadan. This is an evil aim. They wanted to make the entire country a place for terror without any exception and even in the holiest place on earth where Saudis and non-Saudis come to pray to God.”

On Monday, a shootout occurred in Mecca in which Saudi Arabia said previously it foiled an imminent terrorist attack and killed two terrorists.

The clash came just over a week after US, British and Australian authorities warned of a threat of attacks on Western targets in the kingdom during Ramadan, which started last Monday, and urged their nationals to avoid traveling to the country.

Prince Nayef said the kingdom was taking such warnings seriously and welcomed any information from US and British authorities that could help their crackdown.

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