Pakistani among 46 arrested over 2016 Madina attack

IS has carried out a series of bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia since 2014

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that it had arrested 46 members of a militant cell responsible for a deadly suicide bombing attack on Masjid-e-Nabawi in the holy city of Madina last summer that was blamed on Islamic State (IS).

The suspects, which included foreign and Saudi citizens, were detained in the Western port city of Jeddah, state news agency SPA quoted the interior ministry as saying.

Speaking to reporters in Riyadh, the interior minister stated 32 of those arrested were Saudis, while the 14 others were from Egypt, Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Sudan and Jordan, reported Associated Press.

AP further reported the same group was responsible for a suicide bombing near the US Consulate in the city of Jeddah which took place in the same month.



Three suicide bombers and two members of the security forces were killed in the unprecedented attack on the mosque and tomb of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that is one of the religion's holiest sites.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack nor did the interior ministry statement blame a specific group.

IS, based in Iraq and Syria, has carried out a series of bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia since 2014 killing scores of people, mostly members of the Shia Muslim minority and security services.