Saudi Arabia Arrests 93 Suspected IS Militants

Saudi Arabia says it has arrested 93 suspected Islamic State militants since December, including at least 77 Saudi nationals.

Among them are two Syrian and one Saudi accused of planning a suicide car bombing against the US embassy in Riyadh.

The plot was detected last month, Saudi authorities said.

US officials halted all consular services at the embassy for a week starting 15 March over security concerns.

The 93 includes a cell of 65 people who were arrested in March for allegedly being involved in a plan to target residential compounds, prisons and security forces.

Another cell of 15 Saudis led by a bomb-making "specialist" was testing car bombs and planning to target residential areas as well as soldiers.

IS has called on its followers in the kingdom to target authorities there, as well as Western ex-pats and members of the Shia Muslim minority, instead of travelling to areas of Syria or Iraq controlled by the Sunni Muslim extremist group.

A Saudi interior ministry statement said: "Activities are ongoing against the deviant group which seeks to undermine the security of this country ... They are ceaselessly seeking to achieve this through their criminal plans."

Saudi Arabia and some other Sunni Gulf monarchies have been involved in airstrikes led by the US against IS in Syria.