Qatar increases patrol force over Eid

Manama: The Qatar police will be out in force in public places this weekend to ensure that the Eid holidays go without incident.

All departments will be on alert especially in areas like shopping malls, public parks and other recreational sites where large crowds are expected.

The Traffic Department plans to intensify patrolling in all areas, especially residential districts. The team will also be present near the Eid prayer sites and the roads leading to these venues, to ease traffic congestion before and after prayers.

"We have already organised a coordination meeting between the Traffic department, the Internal Security Force and Al Fazaa police to control traffic movement on the roads during the holidays," Lieutenant Abdullah Hawal, media officer at the Traffic department,  said. "On this occasion, we urge all motorists to comply with the traffic rules and regulations and drive carefully especially in residential areas."

Brigadier Hamad Al Duhaimi, director of the Operations Department at the General Directorate of Civil Defence, said the department plans to have more civil defence personnel in the Sealine district, as large crowds are expected over the holiday period.

Calls can be made to the emergency number 999, at anytime of day or night. Staff will be available to speak in Arabic, English, Hindi, Filipino, Farsi, French or Chinese.
Callers should not have to wait longer than 20 seconds, Captain Hassan Mohammad Al Kuwari, Operations Room officer, was quoted by Qatari daily, The Peninsula, as saying.