Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry on Sunday said it had foiled a terrorist attempt to detonate a car loaded with explosives near the Al-Jawhara Football Stadium in Jeddah three weeks ago, Al Arabiya TV channel reported. 

The ministry said it received credible information of a potential terrorist targeting a football match between Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, only days before the game was due to be played.

Police were able to stop the planned attack, which involved a vehicle packed with explosives at the stadium’s parking lot.

Two Pakistanis, a Syrian and a Sudanese were arrested amid claims they were linked to the foiled attack, the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the ministry also said it had arrested a terror cell of four Saudis based in the province of Shaqra in central Saudi Arabia.

According to the ministry, the cell had been communicating with a Daesh leader in Syria and had been receiving commands to carry out terror activities.

Source: MENA