The Irish embassy in Riyadh is to remain open tomorrow despite continuing fears over a possible terror attack in the Saudi Arabian capital.
The decision has been made despite Britain and the US announcing that they are closing their embassies and other diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia tomorrow because of concerns that a new terrorist attack may be imminent.
Saudi Arabia claimed tonight to have arrested 'at least three members' of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror group in the Red Sea port of Jeddah yesterday.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said the decision had been taken on the basis of current information. But they added that the situation would be kept under review.
This afternoon, the US government decided to raise its terror alert status to 'high' from 'elevated' because of a renewed risk of terrorist attack in the United States.
The decision to raise the alert level to orange from yellow on the color-coded scale was made at the White House at a meeting of top national security officials after a review of recent intelligence.
The US earlier said it has credible information about attacks planned against unspecified targets.
Eight days ago, three suicide bombings on expatriate housing compounds in Riyadh killed 34 people, including eight US citizens.
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Washington, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, last night said he fears a big terror attack is imminent in either the US or Saudi Arabia.
Prince Bandar said US and Saudi intelligence agencies are monitoring what he described as 'chatter' in the region and elsewhere.
He said it indicated something was being planned in addition to the recent attacks in Riyadh.
Prince Bandar also highlighted the discovery of 377kg of explosives at a safe house raided near one of the compounds a week before the Riyadh suicide attacks.
'That would have taken out two blocks in the city if it had gone off accidentally. We're all wondering if it's the last (of the explosives) or is it the tip of the iceberg?' he said.
