Riyadh, (IANS) : The Saudi Interior Ministry said the country has dismantled three terror cells affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The authorities arrested 16 men and a woman, including 14 Saudis, a Yemeni, an Egyptian and a Palestinian, the ministry said on its Twitter account on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported.

The cells were planning four suicide attacks targetting citizens, religious scholars, security personnel and various security, military and economic establishments, the ministry tweeted.

Al Arabiya, a local news outlet, said the suspects have reached “advanced stages” of preparing for these suicide attacks.

Police found high explosives, explosive belts, bomb-making materials, weapons and ammunition in raids on the cells.

These sleeper cells, like many other busted ones in Saudi Arabia in recent years, were involved in making explosive belts and bombs.

They also sheltered fugitives and provided them with money, weapons and transport services.