Dubai: One Indian was among five persons killed and over 80 injured, most of them children, as suspected al-Qaeda suicide squad struck at a residential complex in the Saudi capital Riyadh around midnight triggering a series of explosions.

The Saudi interior ministry said explosions took place hours before the "suhur" meal preceding the dawn-to-dusk fast observed by Muslims.

The blast shook buildings as far as the center of the Saudi capital.

The vehicle used in the bombing opened a crater around two meters deep in the ground and gutted at least 15 cars, including one with diplomatic license plate, reports said.

A security man at the scene said that, at least six villas were destroyed by the blast. The housing complex is some five Kms from the Diplomatic Quarter housing foreign embassies and diplomats' residences. Security forces closed off the diplomatic sector after theblast.

Major hospitals in Riyadh were put on a state of alert.

The incident took place despite a massive crackdown by Saudi authorities on suspected extremists, stepped up in the wake of the May bombings that left 35 people dead.

PTI