Saudis dismiss UK ‘final stages’ terror attack alert

British Airways has cancelled several flights to Saudi Arabia in recent weeks due to security concerns and on Monday, Britain updated its travel advice, which was already warning against all but essential travel there.

Saying it believed ‘‘terrorists remain determined to carry out further attacks’’, it added: ‘‘These may be in the final stages of preparation.’’

The interview with al-Shaghrood made no mention of the explosives-packed car, about which the Interior ministry had said it had ‘‘confirmed information’’, and embassy officials were not immediately available for further comment.

Al-Shaghrood said authorities were clamping down on terror but called for more international cooperation. ‘‘This is an international problem and it should be dealt with within the international community,’’ he said. ‘‘Getting to the root of this problem is not an easy thing.’’

The country is long suspected of being a key Al Qaeda recruitment centre and suicide bombings in Riyadh last May and November killed more than 50 people. Twenty-three of the 26 most-wanted suspects named by the government in December are still at large, and two weeks ago forces found the latest cache of arms in the capital, including a car bomb and rocket-propelled grenades.