Around 1,500 Saudis were involved in terror-related activities since 2011, most of whom were killed in battle.

The statement was made by Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour Al-Turki during the 17th International Conference and Exhibition for Industrial Security (ISEC).

“The Cabinet’s deterrent decision to punish terror supporters and extremist groups, however, yielded good results, with a 50-percent decline in the number of Saudis traveling abroad for combat,” said Al-Turki.

“The number of Saudis returning from conflict zones has also increased over the past eight months since the announcement,” he said.

“Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has made a unanimous call upon the leaders of Muslim countries to stand in the face of external forces trying to distort the image of Islam,” he said.

Renowned international firms in the security industry are taking part in the three-day event, organized by the Higher Commission for Industrial Security (HCIS) in collaboration with IFSEC & OSH Arabia under the aegis of Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif.

The event was opened by Gen. Saeed Al-Qahtani, assistant minister for operational affairs.

Various local and international speakers addressed the first session.

Al-Turki highlighted the ministry’s efforts to curb terrorism and preventing evil acts by implementing various preventive measures and deploying sophisticated security equipment. He said the Kingdom has been able to catch many instigators, enhancing protection from terrorism since the 2007 bombings.

“Several Saudis resorted to joining organizations, such as the Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq, after failing to find support within the Kingdom,” he said.

“The world is under threat from terrorism, and people who try and lure young, vulnerable Muslims into hindering stability,” he said.

Al-Turki alluded to a recent statement made by the Interior Ministry during the Haj season denouncing deviant IS strands of thought that are promoted with the help of certain countries and organizations.

“Such groups commit crimes in the name of Islam and use their rhetoric for political gain,” he said.

Other speakers, meanwhile, discussed ways of improving the health, safety, security and well-being of company employees, contractors and visitors as an integral part of doing business.

IFSEC & OSH Arabia is the only global security, fire and safety event in Saudi Arabia, offering the latest solutions and cost-effective networking solutions to examine the latest in the security sector.

According to Khaled Al-Aqeel, HCIS secretary-general, the ministerial endorsement of this year’s event reflects the vital role played by the HCIS in guaranteeing the Kingdom’s security and stability.

Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Richard Gordon, director of Bournemouth University’s disaster management center in the UK, told Arab News that emergency planning for schools and universities should be in place.

“The irony is that we send our children to the best schools and universities here and anywhere else in the world without ensuring that they have proper emergency management plans,” Gordon said.

“Evacuation plans end at people being told to vacate their buildings at the time of an emergency. Subsequent steps, such as where residents would be taken next or how to transfer them quickly and effectively, remain to be tackled for many businesses and institutions.