Saudi police officer shot in Riyadh amid huge mosque security operation

[Valin]

Middle East Eye:

Security was deployed to protect over 94,000 mosques in Saudi Arabia after two consecutive weeks of suicide attacks during Friday prayers

Rori Donaghy

Friday 5 June 2015

 

One Saudi police officer was injured in a shooting in Riyadh on Friday, amid a huge security operation across the country after two successive Fridays of suicide bombings on Shia mosques.

 

The police officer suffered mild injuries to his hand after unknown gunmen opened fire on his vehicle on the central Imam Saud bin Abdulaziz bin Mohammed road in the capital, according to local reports.

 

The authorities are yet to comment on the incident – it is not known if the gunmen have been arrested or if they escaped the scene.

 

The shooting took place early in the morning, as security was mobilised around the country to protect more than 94,000 mosques after two bombing attacks on Shia mosques on consecutive Fridays killed a total of nearly 30 people in the country’s Eastern Province.

 

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs worked with the country’s security agencies to ensure worshippers were protected as they attended Friday prayers.

 

 

(Snip)