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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - At least one Muslim militant blew himself up during a police raid in the holy city of Mecca Thursday, hours after another militant was shot dead in Riyadh as authorities cracked down on suspected al Qaeda activists.
Thursday's raids, the second action against militant hide-outs this week, came shortly after the United States and Britain warned of terror attacks during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
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Tuesday, the Interior Ministry said police had foiled a plot to target Muslim pilgrims in Mecca. Five militants -- four Saudis and a Nigerian -- linked to the plot were arrested.
Thursday, an interior ministry statement said the Mecca militants had intended to use a huge amount of explosives and rocket-propelled grenades to cause maximum damage.
The statement said that while searching the militants' hide-out, police had found large stockpiles of machine guns, hand grenades, ammunition and various kinds of explosives.
"This just goes to show the extensive damage that would have happened to our country if these terrorists were allowed to go ahead with their crime," the statement said.
The kingdom has arrested hundreds of suspected militants since the May 12 suicide bombings on Riyadh housing compounds.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - At least one Muslim militant blew himself up during a police raid in the holy city of Mecca Thursday, hours after another militant was shot dead in Riyadh as authorities cracked down on suspected al Qaeda activists.
Thursday's raids, the second action against militant hide-outs this week, came shortly after the United States and Britain warned of terror attacks during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
>>>
Tuesday, the Interior Ministry said police had foiled a plot to target Muslim pilgrims in Mecca. Five militants -- four Saudis and a Nigerian -- linked to the plot were arrested.
Thursday, an interior ministry statement said the Mecca militants had intended to use a huge amount of explosives and rocket-propelled grenades to cause maximum damage.
The statement said that while searching the militants' hide-out, police had found large stockpiles of machine guns, hand grenades, ammunition and various kinds of explosives.
"This just goes to show the extensive damage that would have happened to our country if these terrorists were allowed to go ahead with their crime," the statement said.
The kingdom has arrested hundreds of suspected militants since the May 12 suicide bombings on Riyadh housing compounds.
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