RIYADH — The Ministry of Interior has reported that 37 percent of all arrested criminals during the past year are Saudis. Ministry of Interior spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said the a total of 2,704 criminals were arrested during the past year. Of them, 27 percent are Yemenis, 6 percent Pakistanis, 6 percent  Ethiopians, 5 percent Egyptians, 4 percent Bangladeshis, 3 percent Somalis, 2 percent Sudanese, 2 percent Indians, 2 percent Syrians and 2 percent Palestinians. Al-Turki said one police officer died in a shooting while on duty and 58 were injured. Six criminals died in the shootings and 19 were injured. The police also seized weapons, drugs and sums of money. The total sum of money seized for the past year is SR41.4 million.

10 kg of pickled products seized

MAKKAH — The municipality seized 10 kg of pickled products for being unsuitable for human consumption. Makkah Municipality reported a vehicle approached the borders of the province from Riyadh and seemed suspicious. The Custom Control contacted the municipality to inspect the food products in the vehicle. After a thorough inspection, inspectors found that the vehicle was carrying pickled food products which have spoilt along the journey. The products were disposed of and the vehicle was seized for further processing.

Attempts to smuggle illegal gadgets foiled

RIYADH — The Custom Control foiled three attempts to smuggle in laser pens, Tasers and covert listening devices. Riyadh Custom Control found 254 Tasers and 10 laser pens in the personal belongings of a truck driver. Another vehicle approaching the checkpoint was found to have 16 Tasers, 16 laser pens and 19 other weapons. The items were hidden in the compartments of the vehicle. In the third attempt, the Custom Control officers found bugged devices and micro-cameras installed in watches, glasses, pens and other such items. The seized items are considered a threat to the privacy of both individual and society as a whole.

Young man stabbed to death  in Hail

HAIL — A young man was stabbed to death in a drifting arena. Hail Police spokesman Capt. Sami Al-Shammary said the police received reports of a young man who had stabbed and killed another young man and fled the scene. The incident happened when a group of young men went out into an empty arena to drift. A fight broke out between the group and one group member stabbed the other. The police are questioning witnesses and are searching for the murderer.

4 children die in Riyadh fire

RIYADH — A fire in an apartment building on the city’s King Fahd Road killed 4 children on Sunday. Riyadh Red Crescent spokesman Abdullah Al-Miraibidh said the victims aged between three and 13 suffered from smoke inhalation. Two other injured victims received initial medical treatment and were then taken to a hospital. — Okaz/Saudi Gazette