Al Qaeda militants now in detention planned to kill Saudi government and security officials and media workers by sending poisoned gifts to their offices, according to a Saudi Interior Ministry official.

The group planned to rob banks and companies to finance their operations.

'Using poisoned perfume which they planned to send as gifts is one of the ways the arrested people planned to carry out their assassinations,' the official said.

Last month Saudi said it had captured 149 Al Qaeda militants who were raising money and recruiting members to carry out attacks inside the kingdom, targeting government facilities, security officials and the media.