SAUDI ARABIA-SECURITY/HAJ Saudi security prepare to receive millions of pilgrims in Mecca

Record ID: 189534

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA-SECURITY/HAJ Saudi security prepare to receive millions of pilgrims in Mecca
  • Date: 1st October 2014
  • Summary: PILGRIM IN TAXI (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COMMANDER OF CONTROL CENTRE OF HOLY CITY OF MECCA, ABDULAZIZ AL-HAMMAD, SAYING: "Smart devices have been introduced this year, including the iPad devices you saw being used at the al-Shemaisy Centre (checkpoint between Jeddah and Mecca), which are used to scan pilgrims' permits to confirm their validity." VARIOUS OF SOLDIER CHECKING PAPER WORK FOR TRAVELLER IN TAXI LOGO READING (Arabic): "SPECIAL FORCES FOR ROAD SECURITY" SOLDIERS STANDING AT CHECKPOINT CARS DRIVING TO MECCA
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA616CZLHNAEHD0BPPDTA3P5Y0Q
  • Story Text: Saudi security forces are on high alert across the Kingdom as they prepare to receive millions of visitors for the Muslim world's largest annual gathering in Mecca.
    On the road connecting Jeddah to the holy city, security officers checked cars making their way there, only allowing Muslims with the appropriate permits to enter.
    "Those who carry permits are allowed to enter the holy city (Mecca) and holy sites. As for individuals who do not have any permits, they are turned over to the authorities," said Abdulaziz al-Hammad, commander of the control centre for Mecca.
    This year, Saudi authorities have introduced electronic scanners to read the paper permits, in order to speed up the process of checking the thousands of vehicles making their way into the city.
    "Smart devices have been introduced this year, including the iPad devices you saw being used at the al-Shemaisy Centre (checkpoint between Jeddah and Mecca), which are used to scan pilgrims' permits to confirm their validity," al-Hammad added.
    Gunmen shot and wounded a Saudi policeman in the eastern part of the kingdom, state news agency SPA reported late on Tuesday (September 30), in an attack that highlights the volatile situation in the area ahead of the annual Haj.
    The attack came days after the fatal shooting of a Shi'ite activist in the same town in Eastern Province, which is home to a large number of the country's Shi'ite Muslim minority and has seen protests against the Sunni Muslim al-Saud ruling family.
    The shootings came as more than two million Muslims converge on Mecca from all over the world for the Haj pilgrimage, which officially starts on Friday (October 3).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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