The Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced that a major terrorist attack has been prevented by security services in the city of Saihat in the Qatif governorate, according to a press release on behalf of the ministry.

On the evening of July 14, security services intercepted a stolen Toyota Corolla vehicle in a busy, built-up district of the city, reported Wam, the Emirates official news agency.

 As the vehicle was surrounded by security services, three men in the car produced guns and started firing at both the officers and crowds of civilians near the scene.

Saudi security services were able to shoot the three terrorists dead before they were able to cause any injury to either officers or pedestrians.

Inside the stolen vehicle, officers found a number of weapons, including three machine guns, a pistol, live ammunition and over ten kilograms of explosives. During investigation to establish the identity of the criminals, it was discovered that they were part of a known terrorist cell and wanted for a number of serious crimes over the past few years, including the murder of ten security officers.

A Ministry of Interior spokesman said, "It is very clear that these men were intent on causing a major terrorist incident which would have resulted in the death of many innocent citizens."

"Terrorists and extremists target Saudi Arabia just as they do the countries of Europe and other peace loving parts of the world. We in Saudi Arabia are determined to defeat them, and will devote all available resources to overcoming this great evil. Saudi Arabia will have zero tolerance for terrorist crimes of this kind, which threaten both national security and the lives of our citizens."