Saudis deny suicide hijack

Jeddah is a busy Red Sea port

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef has denied that three men arrested this week while trying to board a Saudi airliner had been planning a suicide attack.

Earlier on Wednesday, a Saudi security source said the three Moroccans had planned to crash the plane into a building in the city of Jeddah, in a 11 September-style attack.

Saudi television quoted Prince Nayef as saying the Moroccans were wanted over previous security cases.

It was not immediately clear if their arrests were linked to last week's triple suicide bombings in the Saudi capital Riyadh, which left at least 25 people dead, including nine attackers.

They were picked up at Jeddah airport on Monday, just before boarding a flight.

Increased security

Last week, Washington warned of an imminent terrorist attack in Jeddah - a busy Red Sea port.

Some Western diplomats in the city have already been moved out of their homes as a precaution.

The US, Britain, Germany and Italy have all closed their embassies in Riyadh, following intelligence suggesting that new terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia may be "imminent".

The BBC's Paul Simpson in Jeddah says there is an increased security presence on the streets of the city and also in Riyadh.

He says police are checking documents and vehicles are often searched. Security has also been stepped up at international hotels and at foreign residential compounds.

A team of American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents is working in Saudi Arabia to help the Saudi authorities investigate the Riyadh bombings.

Saudi Arabia, which has been strongly criticised by Washington since the Riyadh blasts, has pledged to do "whatever it takes" to uphold security.