RIYADH: An eight-member security team has been appointed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to follow up on the March shooting in the Philippines of Sheikh Ayed Al-Qarni, a prominent Saudi religious scholar.
Al-Qarni made the announcement on Twitter Friday and thanked King Salman for the support.
A case against two suspects arrested in connection with the shooting had been withdrawn by Zamboanga prosecutor Ricard Cabaron, citing insufficient evidence.
Al-Qarni sustained three gunshot wounds to his right shoulder and the middle portion of his chest in Zamboanga after delivering a lecture. A scholar accompanying him, Sheikh Turki Al-Saigh, was injured in his right thigh and left leg.
The scholar said Abdullah bin Nasir Al-Busairi, Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines, was in touch with the Philippines investigators who are dealing with the case.
Philippines Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago told Arab News Friday that although the two suspects were released, the police have been conducting further investigations into the matter.
Although he had heard of the committee from sources, the envoy said he had not received any official information from the authorities.
Al-Qarni, 57, who has over 12 million followers on Twitter, was shot as he left a religious forum at a school auditorium at around 8:30 p.m. by a man who had attended the event.
He is an author of several influential books including the best selling La Tahzan (Don’t Be Sad), with millions of copies sold in Arab countries.
Al-Qarni made the announcement on Twitter Friday and thanked King Salman for the support.
A case against two suspects arrested in connection with the shooting had been withdrawn by Zamboanga prosecutor Ricard Cabaron, citing insufficient evidence.
Al-Qarni sustained three gunshot wounds to his right shoulder and the middle portion of his chest in Zamboanga after delivering a lecture. A scholar accompanying him, Sheikh Turki Al-Saigh, was injured in his right thigh and left leg.
The scholar said Abdullah bin Nasir Al-Busairi, Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines, was in touch with the Philippines investigators who are dealing with the case.
Philippines Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago told Arab News Friday that although the two suspects were released, the police have been conducting further investigations into the matter.
Although he had heard of the committee from sources, the envoy said he had not received any official information from the authorities.
Al-Qarni, 57, who has over 12 million followers on Twitter, was shot as he left a religious forum at a school auditorium at around 8:30 p.m. by a man who had attended the event.
He is an author of several influential books including the best selling La Tahzan (Don’t Be Sad), with millions of copies sold in Arab countries.
