Saudi Arabia has arrested 88 men who were part of a terrorist network , the Interior Ministry said Tuesday . They were `` on the verge of implementing '' plotted attacks inside the country and abroad , the ministry said in a statement . They came from six terror cells in four regions of the country , including Mecca , said Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki , a ministry spokesman . Some of those arrested are `` family members who have sent their sons to terrorist organizations abroad , '' al-Turki said . Some of the others were trying to travel abroad `` to join terrorist groups to conduct terrorist operations . '' Most are Saudi citizens , but three are Yemenis , and one person has yet to be identified , al-Turki said . Fifty-nine of the men had been arrested previously . They were rounded up after months of surveillance . The arrests are part of a nationwide security operation , the ministry said .
Saudi authorities arrested 88 men , the Interior Ministry says . They were `` on the verge '' of implementing plotted attacks , the ministry says . The arrests are part of a crackdown against Islamic extremists in the kingdom that has seen thousands jailed and hundreds killed since 2015. 59 were arrested previously .