Authorities here have made arrangements to ensure that all crowd control during Ramadan, Haj and Umrah seasons will in future be handled by a special task force of 13,000 security officers. The special task team was formed two years ago and initially consisted of 20 officers and 2,000 non-commissioned officers. Brigadier Ali Al-Ghamdi, Commander of the Special Force for the Security of Haj and Umrah, said effective next year, they will handle all crowd control in the areas leading to, and around the Grand Mosque in Makkah. He said security officers will monitor the crowds with surveillance cameras linked to an operation room. In addition, the size of the crowds will be monitored, so that once the Grand Mosque is filled, no one else will be allowed to enter. Other duties to be carried out by security personnel include helping elderly and sick pilgrims perform their rituals. Al-Ghamdi said instructions have been given that a certain number of wheelchairs are set aside for this purpose. “The Ramadan plan for the force is divided into two stages. The first stage covers the first days of Ramadan and the second stage covers the last 10 days of the month until the Eid prayers. The plan applies to all the east and southeast yards, and the Holy Haram's 16 gates.” Officers will also organize the entry and exit of worshippers at Isha and Taraweeh prayers to prevent stampedes. He said posters written in four languages – Arabic, English, Urdu and French – will be displayed to guide pilgrims to the proper areas. He said the security officers will also distribute publications in different languages to help pilgrims perform their rituals properly. He said that an additional 300 non-commissioned officers have undergone intensive training at Umm Al-Qura University to help them assist pilgrims and visitors. They will also help the traffic police to organize the movement of pedestrians by directing them to less crowded areas. In addition, they will work with the Search and Investigation forces to protect pilgrims from pickpockets.
