RIYADH — The statement, carried by the SPA news agency, said a terrorist cell that targeted the Muslim shrine during the holy month of Ramadan was acting on a plot conceived abroad and aimed at destabilizing the country.
Earlier, the Saudi Interior Ministry said that state security forces have detained five terror suspects, including a woman, over a failed plot to attack the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.
The UAE foreign minister, Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, on Saturday condemned the plot as a "horrible crime," saying it would only strengthen their resolve to fight terrorism. Bahrain, Kuwait and Egypt joined in the condemnations of the failed attack.
