Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat- Saudi security forces arrested10 people accused of collecting donations and recruiting on behalf of militant groups, according to a statement issued by the Saudi interior ministry on Saturday

Security special forces, as part of their efforts in fighting terrorism and its funding, managed to arrest a group of people carrying out illegal activities including collecting donations illegally … and sending them to suspected parties,” Mansour al-Turki, the Interior Ministry spokesman said in a statement.

Recipients of the donations used the money in “dragging the sons of the nation to disturbed places,” the statement said, apparently referring to Iraq.

Seven Saudi citizens were arrested Friday night while meeting in a house in the Western port city of Jeddah, according to the spokesman. Two other Saudis were detained in separate raids in Jeddah and the holy city of Medina. The spokesman did not give the nationality of the other suspect.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior issued a statement Jan. 22 warning against collecting donations for groups not registered with the government.