RIYADH — More than 200 Al Qaeda-linked suspects involved in different plots against the kingdom have been arrested in recent months in Saudi Arabia’s largest anti-terrorism sweep to date, the Interior Ministry said today.

The ministry first reported the arrest of eight men, said to be linked to Al Qaeda and allegedly planning to attack oil installations in the kingdom.

An Interior Ministry statement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, said the eight were part of a terrorist cell led by a non-Saudi man, who was one of those arrested. The planned attacks were to take place in the eastern region of the country, which is home to Saudi’s main oil resources.

The arrest of the eight “pre-empted an imminent attack on an oil installation,” the statement said without naming the target or providing more details.

The ministry also said 22 other suspects were arrested for allegedly supporting the Al Qaeda terror network. This group plotted to assassinate the country’s religious leaders and security officials, it said.

The ministry also gave the following breakdown of other arrests:

— 18 suspects, led by an alleged expert in launching missiles, were arrested separately. “They were planning to smuggle eight missiles into the kingdom to carry out terrorist operations,” the ministry’s said.

— 112 Saudis were arrested for links and “coordination with outside circles” to assist in smuggling men to troubled areas — shorthand for Iraq and Afghanistan — for training, after which they would be brought back for attacks in the kingdom.

— 32 men — both Saudis and non-Saudis — were arrested for providing financial aid to Al Qaeda operations in the kingdom.

— 16 men were arrested in the holy city of Medina for colluding to issue a publication propagating “misleading ideology” and criminal acts. The group also worked on helping volunteers go fight in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The ministry said a total of 208 were arrested.