Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia arrested 44 suspects believed to be part of Al Qaeda network in the kingdom who had sought to recruit young people and use charity donations to finance their activities.

In July, a special court in Riyadh convicted 330 people in what was the first known Saudi trial of suspects accused of plotting terrorist attacks on behalf of Al Qaeda.

Friday's attack is the first known attempt against a member of the royal family since the anti-terror operation began in the kingdom eight years ago.