Bomb defused in Saudi capital

Saudi security forces have defused a bomb placed in a telephone booth in the capital Riyadh, a security official said.

A bomb squad defused the bomb last night while police cordoned off the area.

A man found the bomb in the telephone booth next to a gas station in Sultana Street, a main thoroughfare in eastern Riyadh.

Saudi authorities have been on a high state of alert following four suicide bombings last year that killed 52 people.

Both the United States and Britain warned last month there could be further attacks.

Yesterday, British Airways’ flight from Heathrow to Riyadh, which was due to depart at 1.35pm, was cancelled after receiving “security advice” from the Government.