Gulf | Saudi Arabia
Security stepped up at mosque
Nearly 600 cameras installed after attempted knife attack on imam
- By Abdul Rahman Shaheen, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 March 3, 2010
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Riyadh: Security has been beefed up at the Prophet's (PBUH) Mosque in Madinah in the wake of the recent attempt to attack the mosque's imam.
Some 598 security cameras have been installed in the mosque and its courtyards in addition to the deployment of more security forces in order to closely monitor visitors coming to and from the mosque on a round-the-clock basis.
Speaking to Gulf News during a tour of the mosque, Brigadier General Yahya Al Biladi, commander of the security forces at the mosque, said that his forces were on alert and keen to clamp down on any security lapses in and around the mosque.
Arrested
A mentally ill man was arrested carrying knives behind imam Shaikh Saleh Al Budair while he was leading Friday prayers last month.
Brigadier Gen Al Biladi said that all security arrangements were in place to avoid such incidents being repeated in the future and the mosque's security centre was fully equipped.
The centre is closely monitoring the movements of worshippers arriving and leaving the mosque and facilitating their smooth movement on an around-the-clock basis," he said.
The centre has several divisions, such as patrol units and security guards.
"There are two security guards and two officials from the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques stationed at each of the 89 doors of the mosque," he added.
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