Riyadh: Saudi Arabia says it has uncovered an Islamic State group-linked terrorist network that was involved in past attacks in the kingdom and was planning future attacks against civilians, security personnel and government sites.
Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said in a press conference Monday that 17 suspects, among them one Saudi woman, were arrested in the months-long sweep. Eleven are Saudi citizens, in addition to three Yemenis, two Egyptians and one Palestinian.
Al-Turki says the network was involved in preparing suicide vests, improvised explosives and providing logistics, funding, arms and transportation for terrorist operations inside the kingdom. The network also communicated "with leaders abroad in all their activities."
IS-linked terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia have mostly targeted minority Shiites and security personnel.
