“We have taken the matter seriously,” the governor said commenting on a US State Department warning Americans of a possible attack in Jeddah.

“Security agencies in Jeddah have intensified their preparations to the maximum after the malicious terror attack in Riyadh,” Prince Abdul Majeed told Asharq Al-Awsat, a sister publication of Arab News.

“God willing, our country will be protected from terrorist plans.

“But we will deal with the situation very seriously,” he added.

Prince Abdul Majeed rejected all forms of violence and extremism.

“We will not allow anybody to terrorize peaceful people.

“The Riyadh incident has angered the whole world. It’s a terrorist act. It’s perpetrators will be given stiff punishment,” he said.

An American consulate official told Asharq Al-Awsat that its employees have started looking for new housing units to accommodate their families in secure places.

Last March security officers foiled a terrorist plan to attack Mahmal Center in downtown Jeddah.

The plan was aimed at destroying the large shopping center and nearby commercial complexes visited by a large number of foreigners.