Outrage after Saudi man puts gun in baby’s mouth

Riyadh: Saudi police in the capital Riyadh said they had arrested a man, who appeared in a video shooting in the air while he was carrying a newborn.

The video showed the man firing in celebration while the baby was crying.

Another man can be heard urging the shooter to make the baby smell the gun powder.

A clip in the video shows one of the two men, whose faces were not seen, put the muzzle of the gun in the baby’s mouth.

It is unclear why the gun was placed in the baby’s mouth.

The suspected shooter was found to be the baby’s brother, Saudi online newspaper Sabq reported, citing the Riyadh police’s spokesman Lt. Col. Chaker Sulaiman.

“He [the suspect] is in his twenties. He was arrested and the gun used in the incident was seized. Legal procedures have been taken against him,” he added without further details.

After the video went viral, Saudi authorities called for information to identify the suspect.

The kingdom’s chief prosecution also ordered his arrest to face prosecution.

He faces charges of putting a child at risk and violating the country’s gun system, Saudi media said.

Celebatory gunfire has been outlawed in Saudi Arabia, however, it is a common practice amongst nationals.

Several tragic incidents have occurred where stray bullets either kill or injur bystanders.