JEDDAH: A Saudi citizen was being questioned by security authorities on Thursday after a guard at the French Consulate in Jeddah was attacked with a knife.
The security guard, who works for a private security firm, was treated in hospital for minor injuries that were said not to be a cause for concern.
The French Embassy said it had full confidence that the Saudi authorities would establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The Diplomatic Security Special Forces have arrested a citizen — in his forties — after he attacked a security guard with a sharp tool at the French Consulate in Jeddah,” Makkah Region Police spokesman Maj. Mohammed Al-Ghamdi said.
“The security guard has sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital to receive the necessary treatment. The perpetrator has been arrested, and statutory measures are being taken against him.”
The French Embassy in Saudi Arabia called on its citizens to exercise caution. It said: “The French Consulate General in Jeddah was the target of a knife attack this morning against a guard employed by a security company.”
The embassy said it “firmly condemns this attack against a diplomatic site,” affirmed its “full support for the victim,” and expressed its confidence in the Saudi authorities “to shed light on this attack and ensure the safety of the French sites and community in the country.”
Saudi police arrest man after knife attack on guard at French consulate in Jeddah
https://arab.news/ckwjp
Saudi police arrest man after knife attack on guard at French consulate in Jeddah
Children’s Theater Festival opens in Qassim region
- To develop future ‘cultural architects,’ says CEO Khaled Al-Baz
- ‘Nurture creativity, aesthetic awareness and sense of belonging’
BURAIDAH: The Qassim Children’s Theater Festival opened on Tuesday bringing together professionals from across Saudi Arabia and the Gulf.
The event is being held under the patronage of Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, governor of Qassim, at the Science Center in Unaizah governorate.
It has been Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Association and executed by the Unaizah Theater Association, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Running until Jan. 31, it features shows, panel discussions, as well as training workshops to develop children’s theater and strengthen professional skills in the field.
Khaled Al-Baz, CEO of the Theater and Performing Arts Association, told the SPA the festival forms part of a broader strategy to position children’s theater as a distinct cultural sector.
“Children today constitute genuine audiences — tomorrow’s cultural architects,” Al-Baz said.
Ahmed Al-Humaimidi, president of the Unaizah Theater Association, said it was an investment in young people, noting that it extends beyond performances to include cultural and educational programming.
He said the initiative aims to nurture creativity, aesthetic awareness and a sense of belonging, while also identifying emerging talent and encouraging knowledge exchange among theater practitioners.
“Our association recognizes children’s theater as foundational to cultivating aware, creative character,” he said.
The festival serves as both an artistic showcase and a platform for professional dialogue, reflecting the Kingdom’s expanding cultural landscape and growing focus on children’s theater as an educational and cultural tool, the SPA noted.
This occurs alongside support for signature initiatives and performing arts promotion as quality-of-life enhancement.
