HAIL, 26 October 2006 — The gunman who attacked Saleh Nawaf Al-Zaqdi, organizer of Eid festivities in the northern city of Hail, has surrendered to police, according to press reports.
The man took refuge at the house of Sheikh Nawaf ibn Abdullah Ramal in Jabba, 100 km north of Hail, before turning himself to police in the township on the Eid day.
Police in Jabba are now questioning the man who fired gunshots at Zaqdi last week while he was in the Laheedan Commercial Center, Al-Watan said.
Informed sources told the Arabic daily that the gunman did not wear any mask during the attack and that he was a relative of the victim. The man worked for a general service office.
Lt. Col. Saad Al-Muharib, a spokesman for the Hail police, said the gunman had admitted that he attacked Zaqdi because of personal vendetta.
Zaqdi, who is recovering at King Khaled Hospital after surgery to remove the bullets buried in his body, said he wished he had been able to attend the opening ceremony of Eid programs. Members of the organizing committee visited him in hospital on Tuesday.
Hail Governor Prince Saud ibn Abdul Mohsen expressed his concern at the incident. “These kinds of attacks are growing in Hail. We have to conduct a detailed study on this phenomenon and take drastic measures to contain them,” he said.
