JEDDAH: Security forces arrested 19 suspects in connection with the suicide attacks carried out in Madinah, Qatif and Jeddah on Monday, an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Thursday. They included 7 Saudis and 12 Pakistanis.
According to the investigation carried out by the security agencies, the terrorist who blew himself up near the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah was identified as Naer Musallam Hammad Al-Nujaidi Al-Bluwi, a 26-year-old Saudi national. The security agencies also identified terrorists who were involved in the attack on a mosque in Qatif.
The terrorists are Abdul Rahman Saleh Mohammad Al-Emer, 23, who had previously been detained for participating in illegal rallies and calling for the release of detainees held in terrorism cases.
The other two have been identified as Ibrahim Saleh Mohammed Al-Emer, 20 and Abdulkarim Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Hasni, also 20. All those terrorists were never issued national identity cards.
The samples collected from the crime scene were found to have traces of nitroglycerine, a highly explosive material similar to one used in Jeddah blast.
The Interior Ministry said investigations are underway and more details would be announced soon.
The suicide attacks occurred on Monday in Jeddah, Qatif and near the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah killing four policemen and injuring nine.
The bombing in Madinah took place in a parking lot between the city court and the mosque, visited by millions every year.
When security officials became suspicious of an individual who was heading to the Prophet’s Mosque they approached him resulting in him triggering his explosive belt killing four of the officers and injuring others.
Videos circulated on social media showed a car burning and at least two security officers lying on the ground and two others lay crumpled near a burning car. The bomber also died in the attack, which took place at the time of iftar. No worshipper was injured in the attack.
Earlier, in Qatif, two suicide bombers blew themselves up one after the other outside the Faraj Al-Omran Mosque. No casualties were reported.
A witness said a car bomb was detonated near the mosque, which was followed by a suicide attack just before 7 p.m.
Before that at 2:15 a.m. on Monday, a suicide bomber blew himself up near the US Consulate in Jeddah. Security officers confronted him as he moved suspiciously at a parking lot of the Dr. Soliman Fakeih Hospital. Two policemen were wounded lightly in the attack.
The bomber was named as Gulzar Khan, an expat from Pakistan, who lived in Jeddah with his wife and her parents and came to the country 12 years ago to work as a private driver.
Meanwhile, the security men who were injured in the attack that targeted the Prophet’s Mosque have said the incident will not stop them from fulfilling their national and religious duty to the nation and that they will sacrifice their lives to protect the nation from anyone who seeks to break its unity.
The officers said that the words of encouragement by Crown Prince Naif, who visited them at the King Fahd Hospital, made them even more determined to work for their country against the evil forces.
Anad Ayesh, a sergeant from Yanbu who is deployed to the Prophet’s Mosque, said the explosion was heard after the Maghreb call to prayer. He and his colleagues rushed to investigate the blast. They heard the distressed voices of people seeking help.
Terrorists named, arrests made in Madinah, Qatif blasts
Terrorists named, arrests made in Madinah, Qatif blasts
Digital clinic to open new horizons for autism care in the Kingdom
- Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz: ‘This is just the beginning of our plans’
RIYADH: Following the success of the Taif Aziz Caravan for people with autism, the Society of Autism Families is gearing up for the launch of the Kingdom’s first digital clinic powered by a team of experts, doctors, and specialists.
The Taif Aziz Caravan was the first of its kind to travel across Saudi Arabia. Launched by the Society of Autism Families in June 2023, it offered integrated healthcare services to those with autism spectrum disorder and their families, as well as specialized medical consultations and free services.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Taif Aziz Caravan raised awareness about early detection of autism spectrum disorder.
The convoy lasted nearly four months, covering about 12,000 km and visiting 53 cities in the Kingdom. The initiative earned the Society of Autism Families the International Excellence Award in Corporate Social Responsibility in London recently.
Prince Saud bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the organization, told Arab News: “This award holds immense importance for social work worldwide. Winning it for our innovative Taif Aziz Caravan project is a well-deserved recognition of the association's exceptional community contributions.”
Introducing the digital clinic project, he said: “Our work is ongoing and boundless, driven by a passionate commitment to serve.”
He went on to say that the Digital Autism Clinic will provide rehabilitative, medical, and therapeutic services to people with autism across the Kingdom. “This is just the beginning of our plans for greater advancements in this field, God willing.”
The organization’s digital platform allows beneficiaries to easily register and access all available services.
“No pioneering project is without its challenges. However, we tackle these obstacles with well-established strategies and meticulous planning,” Prince Saud said, noting that despite challenges, the convoy achieved its goal within a short timeframe, ensuring the necessary support, and conducting comprehensive social and psychological assessments.
“Awareness empowers society to embrace diversity and enhances the quality of life for everyone. Community understanding is fundamental to supporting individuals with autism effectively,” he added.
The association actively promotes awareness through various initiatives and projects, “as we recognize the significant impact of community awareness about autism spectrum disorder and its profound effect on various areas of life,” the chairman said.
Noting the collaborative efforts taking place in the Kingdom to uplift communities, Prince Saud said: “In Saudi Arabia, collaboration between institutions from all sectors — governmental, private, and nonprofit — is a hallmark of our approach to achieving collective progress.
“I take this opportunity to thank our partners across these sectors for their unwavering support. Together, we achieve both impact and development.”
The Society of Autism Families raises awareness through various initiatives, including high-quality media productions such as the play “Sala 4” in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the world’s first 3D series on autism, under the supervision of a team of specialists, as well as the production of the first song in the world featuring people with autism, among other initiatives.
“Continuous presence and active participation in major events, exhibitions, and conferences, along with social media platforms, are key mechanisms for highlighting inspiring real-life stories and advocating for change,” Prince Saud added.
According to the association's website, autism spectrum disorder refers to a collection of conditions marked by difficulties in social skills, repetitive behaviors, and non-verbal communication, alongside unique strengths and differences.
The site explains that autism is not a single condition but a spectrum of diverse types, shaped by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, which influence each individual in a distinct way.
The term “spectrum” highlights the vast diversity in the challenges and strengths each child with this disorder may exhibit. While the most noticeable traits typically emerge between the ages of two and three, in some instances, early diagnosis can occur as young as 18 months.
The WHO reported that one in every 160 children worldwide is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Riyadh symposium explores challenges in theater training
- This year’s festival features 20 performances selected by experts, reflecting the diversity of Saudi theater and its developmental initiatives
RIYADH: The Riyadh Theater Festival, organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, is being held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University until Dec. 26.
A dialogue symposium at the festival explored challenges and opportunities in theatrical training in the Arab world, focusing on issues such as limited specialized programs, financial constraints, and cultural barriers.
Participants emphasized the need for stronger partnerships between Arab countries to support training, research, and the role of theater in education and public awareness, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The symposium also highlighted the importance of innovative educational programs that foster skill development and produce tangible results in the performing arts.
Sultan Al-Bazie, CEO of the commission, called the festival a cornerstone for advancing theater in the Kingdom and raising public awareness of the performing arts.
This year’s festival features 20 performances selected by experts, reflecting the diversity of Saudi theater and its developmental initiatives.
It supports Saudi talent and enhances the Kingdom’s presence on regional and international stages. The event will conclude with awards for outstanding performers.
Saudi authorities seize drugs, arrest two suspects in Riyadh
- Authorities sezied 35 kg of hashish and 32,338 controlled medical tablets
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s drug control authority seized quantities of narcotics and arrested two suspects for drug promotion in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control reported the seizure of 35 kg of hashish, 32,338 controlled medical tablets, as well as amphetamine and methamphetamine drugs.
It said that it had arrested two suspects in the case — a Syrian resident and a national — in Riyadh’s region, and referred them to prosecution, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi security authorities are urging people to report any activities related to drug smuggling or promotion by calling 911 in the Makkah, Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.
Alternatively, information can be emailed to [email protected]. All reports are treated in confidence.
KSrelief concludes urology surgery project in Yemen
- Project included nine volunteers from different medical specialties
- KSrelief medical team successfully performed 109 specialized urology surgeries
RIYADH: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has completed a medical project for urology surgeries in Yemen’s Aden governorate.
The project included nine volunteers from different medical specialties and was carried out from Dec. 15-22 in collaboration with the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen.
The KSrelief medical team examined 53 cases and successfully performed 109 specialized surgeries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
KSrelief’s project is one of Saudi Arabia’s medical initiatives to assist the Yemeni people and ease their suffering amid the humanitarian crisis.
Saudi interior minister rewards winners of King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival
- Prince Abdulaziz awarded the prestigious King’s Sword to falconers Barghash Mohammed Al-Mansouri and Faisal Al-Qahtani
- He honored the winners of the festival’s elite rounds with King Abdulaziz Cup
RIYADH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif, Saudi minister of interior and chairman of the Saudi Falcons Club, honored on Tuesday the winners of the 2024 King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival.
Prince Abdulaziz awarded the prestigious King’s Sword to falconers Barghash Mohammed Al-Mansouri and Faisal Al-Qahtani, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also honored the winners of the festival’s elite rounds, who received the King Abdulaziz Cup. The champions included Al-Mansouri, Amin Abdullah Al-Mallah, Mohammed Hafez Al-Marri, Fahd Mohammed Al-Mansouri, Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Buainain, and Hamid Mohammed Al-Mansouri, the SPA added.
Additional awards were given to winners in the Mazayen falcon beauty pageant, covering both amateur and professional rounds, the SPA reported.
Prince Abdulaziz also honored the sponsors of the 2024 Saudi Falcons Club events at the end of the ceremony.
King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival was held from Dec. 3-19 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh.
The event drew 1,032 falconers from nine countries, including 160 international participants, and showcased 3,322 falcons from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Italy.
The festival featured 138 rounds in Al-Malwah, highlighting falcon speed and talent, along with Mazayen competitions. It awarded more than SR 36 million ($9.6 million) in prizes, marking a record-breaking year for the festival.
