Latest news with #PublicSecurity
Saudi Gazette
13 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia drives 205,000 unauthorized pilgrims out of Makkah and busts 415 fake Hajj offices
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Director of Saudi Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami revealed that Public Security teams have driven out more than 205,000 people without Hajj permits from Makkah. Addressing a joint press conference of the Hajj security commanders in Makkah on Sunday, he said that the security forces have turned back more than 269,000 people without Hajj permits from entering Makkah. "The Public Security officials have arrested 1,239 people who attempted to transport illegal pilgrims, and imposed penalties on more than 75,000 violators of Hajj regulations. The security teams also busted more than 415 fake Hajj offices," he said while revealing the adoption of punitive measures to deal with violators during the Hajj season. During the press conference, the Hajj security commanders reviewed the security and organizational plans for this year's Hajj season, Al-Bassami said that Saudi Public Security was able to employ artificial intelligence to boost its security plans to crack down on violators of Hajj regulations. He stressed that security personnel will be on the lookout for anyone who violates the Hajj regulations. Al-Bassami said that Public Security has turned back 110,000 vehicles at the entry points to Makkah for transporting unauthorized pilgrims. It also impounded more than 5,000 vehicles that were planning to transport pilgrims without permits. Saudi Public Security has activated permanent security checkpoints at the entrances to Makkah to apprehend violators. Director General of Passports Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Murabba revealed that the number of pilgrims arriving from abroad has exceeded 1.47 million. The number of countries benefiting from the Makkah Route Initiative has increased to eight countries with 12 embarkation points. Al-Murabba said that the Passports Department has worked to facilitate procedures for pilgrims in the countries benefiting from the Makkah Route Initiative, indicating that they have equipped ports with the latest technology and provided multilingual staff to serve pilgrims. "We have field teams equipped with mobile bags that provide services at all locations and help identify unidentified persons," he said. Al-Murabba urged the pilgrims to depart quickly after the Hajj season ends to avoid exposing themselves to legal accountability. He revealed that the General Directorate of Passports has made the preparations to ensure the departure of the pilgrims after performing the rituals of Hajj. The Ministry of Interior affirmed its ability to deal firmly and effectively with anything that might undermine Hajj security. The State Security Presidency revealed the availability of robust security plans to manage crowds at the Jamarat facility during Hajj. "Pilgrims are in our eyes, and violators are in our grasp," the ministry said adding that it is providing protection to maintain order at vital Hajj sites. The ministry stated that Special Emergency Forces will carry out field missions to ensure the safety of pilgrims and prevent infiltrators and violators from accessing the holy sites without permission. On Saturday, Interior Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud reviewed the readiness of Hajj security forces to carry out their field missions to maintain the security and safety of pilgrims at the annual ceremony organized by the security forces participating in this year's Hajj. "Under the guidance of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, I witnessed today the preparations of the Hajj Security Forces. I am proud of the complete readiness and advanced capabilities I saw, and I ask God to grant us all success in fulfilling our leadership's aspirations for a safe and successful Hajj on all levels," he said.
Arab Times
13 hours ago
- General
- Arab Times
Lives Lost In Kuwait Riggae Fire: Six Dead, Nine Injured
KUWAIT CITY, June 1: Riggae woke up at dawn Sunday to a tragic fire that broke out in a building, resulting in the deaths of six people: three at the scene and three in the hospital, while nine others were injured – all of them are Asians and Africans. Firefighting teams worked hard to rescue people trapped in the flames by lowering them from the top of the building through fire ladders and extinguishing the blaze. Emergency medical teams rushed to transport the injured to hospitals, in the presence of Public Security, Rescue, and Traffic personnel. Meanwhile, the Director of Public Relations and Media Department at Kuwait Fire Force (KFF), Brigadier General Mohammad Al-Gharib confirmed that the death toll in the Riggae building fire rose to six, indicating that three died at the scene and three died in the hospital. Al-Gharib told the newspaper that the first firefighting team arrived at the scene within four minutes, affirming that firefighting teams were able to rescue a number of those residing in the building and quickly brought them down through fire ladders. He said the firefighting teams extinguished the flames in record time and launched an investigation to determine the circumstances leading to the fire. In the same context, KFF announced that firefighting teams from Shuwaikh Industrial Area and Ardiya fire stations, as well as the search and rescue centers, controlled the fire that broke out in two apartments in a building in Riggae. KFF revealed that some of the injured were treated at the scene, while others were taken to the hospital. It added that 15 ambulances were quickly dispatched to the fire site, along with intensified preparations to receive the injured at Al-Sabah, Farwaniya, Mubarak Al-Kabeer and Jahra hospitals. The injuries included first- and second-degree burns and suffocation. The videos posted on social media clearly showed the tremendous efforts exerted by the firefighters who rushed to the scene to rescue trapped people. Others rescued those trapped and escaping the flames. Dozens of the building's residents were rescued, as firefighters arrived at the scene quickly and professionally dealt with the incident. Furthermore, Farwaniya Governor Sheikh Athbi Nasser Al-Athbi Al- Sabah visited Farwaniya Hospital on Sunday to check on the condition of those injured in the fire. According to a press release issued by Farwaniya Governorate, Sheikh Athbi Al-Nasser was accompanied by Director of Farwaniya Security Command Brigadier General Mohammed Mutlaq Al-Mutairi, Assistant Director of Farwaniya Security Command Brigadier General Nayef Al-Hajraf, and Director of Farwaniya Hospital Dr. Ali Al-Mutairi. During the visit, Sheikh Athbi Al- Nasser received a detailed explanation from medical staff regarding the condition of the injured and the medical care being provided. He directed the concerned authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and ensure all necessary support and services are extended to the injured. The governor also offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He praised the efforts of the security forces and firefighters in containing the blaze. He stressed the importance of adhering to safety and security standards in residential buildings to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Gulf Insider
a day ago
- Gulf Insider
4 Expats Arrested For Fraudulent Ads For Sacrificial Bonds
Security patrols in the Makkah region arrested four expatriates for committing fraud by publishing advertisements selling fake sacrificial bonds. They were referred to the Public Prosecution after taking the necessary legal measures. The Public Security has warned against responding to advertisements posted by unauthorized institutions, offices, and social-media networks about performing the Hajj on behalf of others, fake Hajj campaigns, securing and distributing sacrificial animals for pilgrims, selling Hajj bracelets, providing transportation, and other misleading advertisements intended to defraud pilgrims. It urged to report such advertisements by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and call 999 in the rest of the Saudi regions.
Saudi Gazette
2 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
4 expats arrested for fraudulent ads for sacrificial bonds
Saudi Gazette report MAKKAH — Security patrols in the Makkah region arrested four expatriates for committing fraud by publishing advertisements selling fake sacrificial bonds. They were referred to the Public Prosecution after taking the necessary legal measures. The Public Security has warned against responding to advertisements posted by unauthorized institutions, offices, and social-media networks about performing the Hajj on behalf of others, fake Hajj campaigns, securing and distributing sacrificial animals for pilgrims, selling Hajj bracelets, providing transportation, and other misleading advertisements intended to defraud pilgrims. It urged to report such advertisements by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, and call 999 in the rest of the Saudi regions.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
China cracks down on ‘AI prediction' scams ahead of national university entrance exams
The Chinese authorities have vowed to crack down heavily on scammers targeting the national college entrance examination , especially those who claim that artificial intelligence can be used to predict the real questions. Advertisement The Chinese Ministry of Education, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Public Security jointly announced a campaign to investigate and clean up 'illegal and harmful information' relating to the exams on Friday. Known as the gaokao, the exam, which runs from June 7 to June 10 this year, can make or break a young person's future since their scores largely determine if and where they can attend university and what they can study. 04:32 What is the gaokao? A look at China's daunting university entrance exams What is the gaokao? A look at China's daunting university entrance exams More than 13.3 million people will take the test this year, according to education ministry figures, and many will have been preparing using mock papers and the previous years' exams. But given the high stakes and the cutthroat nature of the competition, the temptation to seek an advantage, or even cheat, will always be there – and there is no shortage of those hoping to profit from that. Mock papers, which the sellers claim used artificial intelligence to better predict the actual questions, are selling online for inflated prices, according to media reports. Advertisement Some social media accounts and private tutors are also claiming access to 'top secret' information sourced from teachers who help set the papers, according to Friday's government announcement. 'Some even used big AI models to predict the questions as a gimmick. The relevant information was exaggerated to attract traffic, in order to induce candidates and parents to buy simulated test questions and reference materials at high prices,' the statement said.
