The official Saudi Press Agency, quoting an unidentified ministry official, said the men were all Saudis and belonged to "the deviant group" — the term Saudi officials use to refer to Islamic militants and members of al-Qaida.

The official said the 11 incited and financed the group's activities, and authorities have evidence that one of them has alleged links to the Abqaiq oil installation, according to the news agency.

In the February 2006 attack, security guards opened fire on two explosives-laden vehicles that were trying to enter the Abqaiq oil complex, the world's largest oil processing facility, located in eastern Saudi Arabia. The vehicles exploded without damaging the facility.

Thursday's announcement came two days after the ministry said three men with suspected links to al-Qaida had been arrested. The three allegedly used the Internet to plan terrorist attacks, recruit supporters and publish tracts on militant ideology.

Saudi security forces and police have been cracking down on extremists for several years after militants attacked foreigners and others involved in the country's oil industry, seeking to topple the monarchy for its alliance with the U.S.