Saudi Arabia arrests 88 men for 'plotting attacks' Published duration 2 September 2014

image copyright AFP image caption Saudi police have stepped up their operations around the country since the emergence of Islamic State

Saudi Arabia has arrested 88 people accused of plotting attacks inside and outside the country, officials say.

The interior ministry said the men had been monitored for several months before their arrest and "were on the verge of carrying out operations".

Police say three of the men are from Yemen, one is still being identified and the rest are Saudis.

Correspondents say Saudi Arabia has stepped up its security amid Islamic State's offensive in Iraq and Syria.

Interior ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki did not give any details about the plots but said 59 of the men had previously served prison sentences for similar offences.

He told reporters the arrests were made over the past few days, and said it showed that Saudi forces were "serious in tracking down" anyone who joined extremist groups.

"It is unfortunate that some of those who had completed their sentences and were released by court orders returned to their previous ways," he added.

Those arrested support "misguided ideology and glorify terrorist acts," the spokesman added, saying several of them were in contact with "members of terrorist organisations" outside the country.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia made it illegal for its citizens to fight for groups overseas amid growing concerns that those citizens would eventually threaten the kingdom's stability.

'Europe and US at threat'

The six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council, of which Saudi Arabia is a member, said on Saturday that it was ready to act "against terrorist threats that face the region and the world".

Saudi King Abdullah said groups like Islamic State posed a danger that could "affect several countries outside the Middle East".

"If we ignore them, I am sure they will reach Europe in a month and America in another month," he warned.

Saudi Arabia has faced a growing threat from extremist fighters across its southern border with Yemen and has voiced concern about Islamic State's rise to its north, in Iraq and Syria.