By IINA,
Makkah : Around 2,500 police officers and soldiers are currently attending to security at the Haram Mosque in Makkah. “Security personnel will be increased during the last 10 days of Ramadan when the number of visitors and those coming to perform Umrah increases,” said Gen. Yusuf Hussein Matar, commander of the Haram Mosque Security Forces. “The security plan this year is different from previous years because of the school vacation, which has led to an increase in the number of people inside the Grand Mosque,” he said, adding that this has resulted in the authorities increasing security in the Haram until the end of the holy month.
Gen. Matar said the security plan included ensuring smooth circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba (Tawaf), entry and exit of people to and from the prayer complex, ensuring that passageways are clear, organizing space in the courtyard outside, and taking measures to enable visitors to perform their duties in peace and comfort. He added that in order to implement the security plan, the Grand Mosque Security Forces are working with other departments including the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Holy Mosque, the General Security, the Special Emergency Power of Makkah and the Haj Security Forces.
Gen. Matar said the loss of children in the mosque is a major problem as most children are unable to give information about themselves or their parents. “We keep the lost children with us and circulate information about them,” he said, urging families to take good care of their children and take measures that would help locate them if they go astray like placing information bracelets around their wrists. Gen. Matar also deplored the robberies and thefts that take place inside the Haram Mosque, adding that people usually come to the Grand Mosque to cleanse themselves of their sins.
“Where can those who steal or do anything wrong wash their sins?” He added that the authorities have taken measures to catch criminals, including the placing of cameras around the Kaaba, in the Masaa (walk between Safa and Marwah) and in the courtyards surrounding the Grand Mosque. “These measures, in addition to the chopping of hands according to Islamic Shariah, would deter thieves from operating inside the Grand Mosque,” he said. Gen. Matar also cautioned foreigners against reserving places inside the mosque for Saudis for money and said a special committee had been formed to stop the practice.