Saudi Interior Ministry announced on Saturday shooting dead two local militants in capital city Riyadh, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry highlighted that the two were killed during a raid after learning that they were hiding in a house north Riyadh. The police asked them to turn themselves in but they responded by shooting at the forces.

The ministry confirmed that the deceased are members of the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The ministry also confirmed that killing them prevented a terrorist attack from happening as they were wearing explosive belts when the raid took place. The police seized explosive belts, homemade hand bomb and chemical products.

Saudi Arabia has witnessed many deadly terrorist attacks in recent years. According to local report released in September 2016, the country has registered 22 terrorist attacks since 2014 that killed 95 individuals and wounded tens of civilians and police personnel.

Those attacks targeted mosques and other places and most of them were conducted by the IS.

source: Xinhua