The Grand Mosque in the Saudi Arabian holy Muslim city of Mecca. Photo: ReutersSaudi security forces on Friday (local time) foiled a suicide attack on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, cornering the would-be attacker in an apartment, where he blew himself up, the Interior Ministry said. The building collapsed, injuring six foreigners and five members of the security forces. Earlier in the day, security forces had shot dead a wanted man at another suspected Islamist militant hideout in Mecca's al-Aseelah neighbourhood. In May last year, Saudi security forces shot dead two alleged Islamic State fighters outside Mecca, and two others blew themselves up outside Mecca.

Source: Otago Daily Times June 23, 2017 23:48 UTC