Abdullah Zaid Al-Awaidi, director of the Landscape Department at the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs said that an unknown person opened fire as he was getting into his vehicle at 2.45 p.m. The incident took place in Al-Hulwa town in the Hawtah Bani Tamim Dsitrict close to Al-Kharj, some 60 km from Riyadh.
The victim sustained multiple injuries on his left leg and doctors at the Hawatah Bani Tamim General Hospital conducted a four-hour surgery to extract the bullets from his leg. The doctors who performed the operation said that the patient was out of danger and in sound health. They confirmed that it would take him some time, however, to make a full recovery and be discharged.
According to an official at the ministry, Awaidi is a hardworking officer who is popular among his staff and members of the public who visit the municipality office for various services. “We cannot ascertain the motive of the gunman since he had no known enemies.” Hawtah Bani Tamim Gov. Ahmed bin Dakheel Al-Muneef ordered the police on Saturday to intensify their search in order to apprehend the criminal. The governor stressed that such criminals should not escape the law and he requested members of the public to assist the law enforcement officers in any way possible. The governor also thanked the hospital authorities for the prompt medical treatment given to Awaidi.
