Saudi security forces foiled an attack on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Makkah on Friday, state television Al-Ekhbariya and Al Arabiya TV reported. Al Arabiya said security forces had found two groups of terrorists in Mecca and a third group in the city of Jeddah. The foiled attack targetted worshipers at the mosque, it said. Neither Al Arabiya nor Al-Ekhbariya gave any further details.

Monitoring Desk adds: Muslim worshipers are continuing their Tarawih prayers safely at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Friday, Al Arabiya News Channel correspondent reported after Saudi security forces foiled a terrorist attack in the area. The Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the world and surrounds Islam's holiest place, the holy Kaaba. Mansour Turki, the spokesperson of the Saudi interior ministry, said the kingdom's forces have foiled terrorist attacks emanating from three locations, one from Jeddah city and the other two were in Makkah. In Makkah, the two attacks were planned in Al-Asiliya neighbourhood and the second in Ajyad Al-Masafi neighbourhood inside the circumference of the Grand Mosque, where Muslim worshipers were targeted.

Copyright Reuters, 2017

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017