A security official at the Prophet’s Mosque said a new advanced operations room connected to 1,300 high-quality cameras was used for the first time and started operating by the first day of Ramadan.
Gen. Hamed bin Ahmad Al-Ruhaili, the Prophet’s Mosque’s special force commander, said the room uses technology to cover the entire mosque including the courtyards and parking.
He added: “Officers monitor the cameras’ high resolution videos round the clock. Field agents and patrols are given orders based on the cameras’ feed.”
He said cameras are installed in the women’s section too.
The aim of these cameras is to provide security and convenience and any required assistance to worshippers and Umrah pilgrims, he added.
He said the mosque is always filled with people, but the busiest days are usually on Fridays, the Qur’an completion nights and first Eid morning after Ramadan finishes.
On the night of Qur’an completion, all forces serving worshippers are spread across courtyards, roofs and around the mosque.
Al-Ruhaili added: “For Ramadan we have prepared an integrated plan based on previous experiences.”
All officers and privates are serving pilgrims in terms of organizing their entry and exit and providing them with assistance and services.
Al-Ruhaili said: “We’ve worked on facilitating the entry to the burial place of the Prophet (peace be upon him) for visitors. We have coordinated with the Presidency of the Prophet’s Mosque’s Affairs to manage doors, courtyards and parking and to place signboards showing the entries and exits to and from the burial place.”
Personnel from the Civil Defense and police are backing up the mosque security force, he said.
He said there are offices around the mosque to receive lost items. “Those working in the Prophet’s Mosque are trained and qualified to deal directly with pilgrims and visitors.
They were trained by a number of academics and specialists from the Islamic University.”
He said the number of those working in the two holy mosques increases every year. “The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice provided us with translators who can communicate with visitors of different nationalities and in different languages and guide and help them.”
Powerful cameras at Prophet’s Mosqueprovide security
