Saudi Gazette Report

MAKKAH — Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif attended the annual military parade of the Hajj security forces and the agencies concerned with affairs of Hajj and pilgrims participating in implementing the general plan for this year’s Hajj season.

The minister reaffirmed the readiness of the Hajj security forces to carry out their tasks in preserving the security and safety of pilgrims.

The ceremony, which was held in Makkah on Monday, was attended by a number of senior government officials, led by Madinah Emir Prince Salman bin Sultan, Deputy Emir of the Makkah Region Prince Sultan bin Mishal, and commanders of the security forces.

The parade demonstrated the readiness of the security sectors participating in this year’s Hajj security mission to provide the highest levels of security and safety for the guests of God so as to enable them to perform the rituals of Hajj in ease and comfort.

A number of military displays and drills were also presented, which included a review of the most prominent modern mechanisms used in Hajj missions this year. During the parade, a number of aviation displays were presented, and then the mechanisms, security aviation, and types of aircraft that will be used in this year’s Hajj were displayed to monitor human crowding and equipment at the Holy Sites.

The Minister of Interior and the attendees witnessed security drills by the Special Emergency Forces, which was concerned with confronting terrorism and armed violence, during which modern technology was used in light of the security men’s combat skills without making use of weapons.

Speaking on the occasion, Director of Public Security and Chairman of the Hajj Security Committee Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami stressed that the Hajj security forces are fully prepared and ready to deal with the utmost determination and force to confront everything that may disturb the peace of the guests of God, as well as to ensure that the pilgrims perform their rituals in ease and comfort. "The safety of pilgrims and security of Hajj is a red line," he asserted.