What happened in Mecca?

ABC Online is reporting that a large firefight broke out in the pilgrim city of Mecca between "terrorists" and Saudi security personnel.

Clashes between police and suspected terrorists in western Saudi Arabia have left 10 people dead, including five members of the security services, the daily Okaz reported.

The paper says five other security officers were injured in the fighting in Mecca's Khaldiya district, and seven people on the authorities' wanted list were arrested.

The London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), citing "diverse sources" in Saudi Arabia, says that eight security officers and three civilians were killed in the clash.
 

The most detailed account of the shootout so far comes from Iran Broadcasting. The astounding bits have been highlighted.

11:42:21 AM Riyhadh, June 15 - Ten people, including five members of the security services, were killed in an overnight clash between police and suspected terrorists in the holy city of Mecca, western Saudi Arabia, the daily Okaz reported Sunday.

Five other security officers were injured in the fighting in Mecca's Khaldiya district and seven people on the authorities' wanted list were arrested, the paper said.

Okaz said the shootout occurred after a group of men aboard a vehicle ignored police orders to stop and took refuge in a building in Khaldiya following a car chase through the streets in which shots were fired.

Police evacuated the building and stormed the apartment where the suspects were holed up, the report added.

Inside they found a large quantity of weapons and explosives, while one of those arrested was wearing a suicide bomber's belt.

Okaz said that the dead included a captain in the security forces while a lieutenant-colonel and three sergeants were among the wounded.

There was apparently a night car chase, bullets flying, a hasty siege in an upscale part of Mecca, an apartment full of explosives and a sudden rush in which a senior intelligence officer died. Middle East News say that

Police seized 72 locally-made bombs of various sizes, in addition to several automatic rifles, guns, ammunition, communication devices, chemicals for use to manufacture bombs and masks, said the statement.

It's possible that something was in the last stages of planning and the security forces caught a lucky break. Reuters is reporting that the Saudi's shorts are in the shredder:

Residents of the nearby port city of Jeddah reported two-mile traffic tailbacks into Mecca amid security checks, including inspections of women's handbags, a rare step in a country which enforces strict gender segregation.

Al Qaeda under attack in Mecca. The times, they are a changin'.