NAJRAN: Border guards foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of hashish across the Yemeni border through the mountain pass of Al-Shatayba in the Najran province on Thursday. In its attempt to get inside the Saudi side of the border, the 15-member gang started firing at the border force. But following the return fire by the border guards, the smugglers withdrew leaving behind 152 kg of hashish, said Commander of the Border Guard in Najran, Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Zahrani.
African arrested for robbery
JEDDAH: Jeddah police arrested an African in connection with the robbery of SR55,000 from a commercial building in the downtown district of Balad, official spokesman of Jeddah police Col. Misfar Al-Juaid said on Wednesday. The man was found carrying a bag containing SR55,000 in the premises of the commercial building shortly after the robbery was reported. During the interrogation the man admitted that he stole the money and that he traveled from Chad to the Kingdom as an Umrah pilgrim and overstayed.
Temporary hospital set up for pilgrims
MAKKAH: A 52-bed temporary hospital has been set up inside Safwa Towers in front of the King Abdul Aziz Gate of the Grand Mosque to provide free health care to Haj and Umrah pilgrims following the demolition of Ajyad Hospital. Dr. Khaled Zafar, director of health affairs in Makkah province, said the hospital was established on the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, adding that it has been operating since the beginning of Ramadan. The hospital has 35 rooms equipped with modern medical and first aid facilities and has allocated 12 beds for intensive care, 17 beds for emergency care, and eight for health care. It also has an advanced laboratory and X-ray units and full-fledged pharmacy.