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Saudi raids net 136 'militants' 'Militants' held in Saudi Arabia
(about 1 hour later)
Authorities in Saudi Arabia announced the arrest of 136 suspected militants, including a potential suicide bomber. The Saudi authorities say they have detained 136 suspected militants, including a potential suicide bomber.
The arrests were made over the last few months in several cities, the interior ministry said. They included members of several al-Qaeda-type cells. The arrests were made over the past few months in several cities, and those held include members of al-Qaeda-type cells, the interior ministry said.
The militants are suspected of trying to bring down the Saudi royal family with attacks on Western targets. A ministry spokesman told the BBC that 115 of the suspects were Saudi nationals - the rest were foreigners.
An interior ministry spokesman told the BBC 115 of the suspects were Saudi nationals - the rest were foreigners. They are accused of planning to bring down the Saudi royal family and attack Western targets.
Militants began a campaign in Saudi Arabia in 2003 with attacks on Western housing compounds, but violence has declined in the last couple of years in the face of tough security measures. Militants began a campaign in Saudi Arabia in 2003 with attacks on Western housing compounds.
The only known attempted operation by Islamic militants this year was a foiled attack against the country's largest and most important oil facility, says the BBC's correspondent in Cairo, Heba Saleh. However violence has declined in recent years in the face of tough security measures.
The only known attempted operation by Islamic militants this year was a foiled attack against the country's largest and most important oil facility.
Religious decreesReligious decrees
The Saudi interior ministry spokesman, General Mansoor al-Turki, said some of the militant groups had been about to carry out attacks in Saudi Arabia while others were still in the preparatory stages. The interior ministry spokesman, General Mansoor al-Turki, said some of the militant groups had been about to carry out attacks in Saudi Arabia while others were still in the preparatory stages.
He said the authorities had waited to announce the arrests until all the suspects had been rounded up. He said the authorities had withheld the announcement of the arrests until all the suspects had been rounded up.
Eight cells had been disrupted, Mr Turki said. "We're talking about eight different cells that were caught all over the kingdom, in almost all areas," Mr Turki told the BBC.
Some of those arrested were recruiting others to fight in "unstable countries". Some of those arrested were recruiting others to fight in "unstable countries", he added.
Others were allegedly recruiting militants to be trained abroad and then sent back to Saudi Arabia to carry out attacks.Others were allegedly recruiting militants to be trained abroad and then sent back to Saudi Arabia to carry out attacks.
Some detainees carried religious decrees giving them permission to kill and injure people, kidnap people for ransom and rob banks.