In trap: Saudi authorities catch serial cat killer at airport

The serial cat killer posing in a snapchat cat filter. (Photo courtesy: social media)
Updated 05 August 2017
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In trap: Saudi authorities catch serial cat killer at airport

JEDDAH: Serial cat killer is now in custody after Saudi authorities have launched a manhunt for the culprit who claimed the lives of countless cats, sparking outrage across Jeddah after posting videos of the killings on social media.
A security team was formed to identify the criminal who was later caught by the airport police, according to Makkah police spokesman Col. Atti bin Attia Al-Qurashi.
The killer, 31, is completing necessary procedures against him, where he will be later referred to public prosecution.
The cat-killer, Saudi, posted several video clips on social media of him killing any cat that crossed his path. The disturbing footage shows him shooting the innocent felines with an air rifle.
He then leaves his victims writhing in pain as they die an agonizing death.
Apparently the gun-toting killer took to social media to vent his frustration over how the furry felines were messing up his car, forcing him to get it washed four times a week.
“For those who feel sorry for the cats, give me the money for four carwashes a week,” the killer said on the video.
But his actions have caused a backlash, with Twitter users posting furious reactions demanding he be punished. There is even a trending hashtag: #WeDemandThePunishmentOfCatsKiller.
“He deserves to be punished! hope they find him & lock him up! Such a sick b******,” said Zara.


“Please help, there’s a slaughterer shooting cats in Jeddah KSA I wish if you do anything,” another tweep said in an urgent plea for authorities to catch him while tagging the animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).


Others called for staff at Snapchat, the app the cat killer used to share his video, to track and ban the offender: “Hey @Snapchat & @snapchatsupport it’ll be great if u track & band such awful behavior from sick mind people.”


Others have called into question the man’s mental health: “If you kill a cat you’re probably losing your marbles,” one user said.


Another agreed saying “Killing animals is an obvious sign of psychological behavior.”


Saudi authorities have got involved as they try to stop the killings, ordering the arrest of the cat slayer.
The hunt has escalated with the Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture also joining the search for the moggy murderer before more lives are lost.
In March 2017, three men who fed a live cat to their dogs were ordered by Dubai’s ruler to clean the emirate’s zoo every day for three months.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum issued the order after an online video was posted showing the cat being attacked and killed by two dogs.
The horrific video showed a white cat being pulled out of a cage by what appeared to be a Rottweiler dog, as the men goaded it on.
After a struggle, the cat goes limp and one of the men can be heard telling the dogs to “shut him up.”
Dubai police arrested the three men after the video appeared on social media.

 

 


Hareed Festival: A window into the heart of the Farasan Islands

Updated 06 May 2024
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Hareed Festival: A window into the heart of the Farasan Islands

  • Annual event highlights tourism potential

Riyadh: The Farasan Islands, a string of coral islands nestled 40 km off the coast of Jazan in the Red Sea, have been abuzz with activity recently as they hosted the 20th Hareed Festival.

This vibrant annual event celebrates the arrival of parrotfish, also called hareed, in the islands’ shallow waters, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The islanders have cherished this event for generations, transforming it into a social gathering that goes well beyond the arrival of the fish.

Visitors to the festival got a glimpse of the islands’ rich cultural heritage as it showcased the area’s unique customs, traditions, folk games, and handicrafts. It also focused its spotlight on Farasan’s remarkable tourism potential and historic sites.

Al-Dana provides one of the highlights. It is a captivating form of vocal art that is one of Farasan’s oldest folk traditions. It forms a poignant expression of longing, a result of the hardships endured by sailors on extended pearl-diving expeditions. The challenges faced by these brave men fueled the art form, which is deeply rooted in Farasan’s cultural identity.

The annual festival also gives an opportunity for Farasan residents to display their traditional handicrafts. Visitors can watch the making of fishing traps and nets, the intricate weaving of palm fronds, the creation of bags and rugs, and hat knitting.

A designated area at the hareed fishing site catered to families and children. Visitors could experience the thrill of catching parrotfish using a traditional method that involved setting up barriers to prevent the fish from escaping. This competition, a centuries-old tradition, allowed families to connect with the region’s fishing heritage.

Farasan’s most renowned tourist attractions highlighted the islands’ potential for tourism.

Al-Qassar village, which is located only 5 km from Farasan Grand Island, is a popular tourist site. This heritage village, which is built of stone and palm leaves, is home to the archipelago’s largest palm oasis.

Al-Qassar has served as a summer retreat for Farasan residents. People travel by camel to spend a three-month break in the village during the season of Al-Asef, the northwestern summer wind that comes after the hareed fishing season.

Famous for its abundance of fresh groundwater, Al-Qassar village comprises around 400 houses. These unique dwellings, with stone walls and roofs made of palm tree planks, leaves, doum palm, or anisotes trisulcus branches, topped with algae and mud, are made by traditional building techniques designed to withstand the elements.

The Hareed Festival is a window into the heart and soul of the inhabitants of the Farasan Islands; a celebration of culture, tradition, and the islands’ natural beauty.


Saudi Border Guard arrest 4 attempting to smuggle qat

Updated 44 min 57 sec ago
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Saudi Border Guard arrest 4 attempting to smuggle qat

JAZAN: The Kingdom’s Border Guard in Al-Ardah, Jazan, recently arrested four Yemeni nationals attempting to smuggle 80 kg of qat into the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Mostly chewed by users, Qat is a mild stimulant and illegal across most of the Arab world.

The government has urged citizens and residents to report any information they have regarding drug smuggling or sales to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control. Reports can be made by calling 911 for Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 999 for other regions. Alternatively, information can be emailed to [email protected]. All reports are treated confidentially.


KSrelief distributes food in Pakistan, drills solar-powered wells in Nigeria

Updated 06 May 2024
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KSrelief distributes food in Pakistan, drills solar-powered wells in Nigeria

DUBAI: KSrelief, Saudi Arabia’s aid agency, recently distributed 370 food baskets in the flood-hit Shangla district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan, benefiting 2,590 individuals.

The aid was a part of the fourth phase of the Kingdom’s Food Security Support Project in Pakistan 2024.

Last week, KSrelief, in collaboration with a civil society organization, initiated a project to drill six solar-powered medium-depth water wells in Kwara State, Nigeria. The wells, each at a depth of about 80 meters and equipped with tanks holding 5,000 liters, are for the benefit of 30,000 individuals.

The beneficiaries lauded Saudi Arabia for addressing their vital water needs.


Saudi anti-corruption authority reveals details of recent cases

Updated 06 May 2024
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Saudi anti-corruption authority reveals details of recent cases

  • Spokesman said legal procedures had been initiated against all perpetrators

RIYADH: A spokesman for Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, also known as Nazaha, revealed on Sunday details of a number of criminal cases it recently investigated and prosecuted.

Outlining 20 of the most prominent corruption cases, he said legal procedures had been initiated against all perpetrators.

In one case, two Central Bank employees were arrested for receiving sums of money from a resident, who was also arrested, in exchange for depositing more than SR7.3 million ($1.95 million), without verifying the source, into bank accounts belonging to commercial entities over a two-year period.

In another case, a security officer working at the General Department of Traffic was arrested for receiving SR387,000 from the owner of a public services office, who was also arrested, in exchange for illegally amending the essential data of a group of vehicles.

One of the cases also highlighted involved an employee working at a university hospital who was arrested for receiving SR100,000 from citizens in exchange for a promise to employ them at the university.

Nazaha said it continues to work to identify and prosecute anyone in the Kingdom involved in the embezzlement of public funds, guilty of abuse of power and position for personal gain, or otherwise harming the public interest.

It stressed that guilty parties will be pursued and held accountable, and that there is no statute of limitations on such crimes.


Saudi, Bahraini public prosecutor meet in Manama

Updated 05 May 2024
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Saudi, Bahraini public prosecutor meet in Manama

  • Al-Mujeb highlighted the unwavering support the Kingdom's public prosecution receives from its leadership

RIYADH: Saudi Public Prosecutor Sheikh Saud bin Abdullah Al-Mujeb met with his Bahraini counterpart Ali bin Fadl Al Buainain in Manama, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Al-Buainain welcomed Al-Mujeb and his accompanying delegation and expressed his delight at the visit, which he said signified the ongoing exchange of visits between the judicial bodies of the two nations and the sustained collaboration in combating transnational crime.
During the meeting, Al-Mujeb emphasized the deep-rooted historical ties between the Bahrain and the Kingdom and their continued advancement across various sectors, particularly in parliamentary cooperation and the exchange of information to ensure regional security.
He highlighted the unwavering support the Kingdom's public prosecution receives from its leadership, which he said enhanced the efficiency of its judicial processes.