Al-Qaeda planned to kill Saudis with poisoned gifts

“The group planned to rob banks and companies to finance their operations,” said the official, who declined to be named.

Last month Saudi Arabia said it had captured 149 al-Qaeda militants in recent months who were raising money and recruiting members to carry out attacks on government facilities, security officials and the media.

“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 interior ministry official said.