Saudi police secure a neighbourhood where two men reportedly blew themselves up during a firefight with security forces on January 21, 2017, in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. (AFP/Xinhua)

RIYADH, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi police have arrested 16 terrorists, who were in connection to the recent Jeddah raids, Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

The police raided on Saturday two hideouts of terrorists in Jeddah, killing two extremists and arresting 16 others, including 10 Pakistanis.

The ministry confirmed that the two killed were Saudis. One of them had connection to the deadly blasts that targeted two mosques, including the 2015 attack that killed 15 police personnel in Asir region.

The police confiscated three grenades, eight explosive molds, 48 explosive-making chemicals and metal pieces from the raided hideouts. The police also seized guns and bullets.

The raids and recent arrests were part of ongoing counterterrorism operations.

Since the surfacing of the Islamic State (IS) militant group in 2014, Saudi Arabia has arrested 566 terrorists who formed eight sleeping cells, including six women, local newspaper said this week. Enditem