Saudi Arabia confronts Islamic State

The cousin of a victim prays at the site of a suicide bombing outside a Shiite Muslim mosque in the Saudi city of Dammam on May 29.

The cousin of a victim prays at the site of a suicide bombing outside a Shiite Muslim mosque in the Saudi city of Dammam on May 29.

(AFP/Getty Images)

May 31, 2015 7 AM PT

Saudi Arabia is stepping up its counter-terrorism efforts to confront a rash of attacks that officials blame on the extremist group Islamic State.

Counter-terrorism training

SWAT team members take part in counter-terrorism drills in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in April.

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Counseling former militants

Badr, a Saudi who had hoped to join the extremist group now known as Islamic State, has received counseling at the Mohammed bin Naif Care and Rehabilitation Center in Riyadh.

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Counter-terrorism training

Members of a SWAT team in Riyadh practice tactical maneuvers in preparation for possible terrorist attacks.

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Preparing for possible attack

The SWAT team practices counter-terrorism maneuvers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Counseling former militants

Dr. Ali Afnan is a psychologist at the Mohammed bin Naif Care and Rehabilitation Center. Saudi Arabia has developed an intensive program to rehabilitate convicted terrorists through religious re-education, psychological counseling and job training.

(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)