RIYAD—Saudi Arabia put to death 81 people who had been convicted of crimes including murders, rape, arms smuggling and links to terrorist groups, in the largest known mass execution in the history of the kingdom.

Most of those executed on Saturday were Saudis, according to the interior ministry. More than half were from the minority Shiite Muslim population, which has a history of militancy and protest against discrimination. Seven were Yemeni nationals and one was Syrian.

The interior ministry didn’t disclose how the men were killed. Executions in the past have involved beheading by sword in the kingdom, which remains among the world’s top executioners despite recent efforts to curb the use of the death penalty.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-puts-81-people-to-death-in-its-largest-execution-ever-11647104991