Manama: Police in the western Saudi city of Makkah have arrested five people who had assaulted security men at a commercial mall in Jeddah.
The fight started with a heated argument between two people that led to a fist fight, said Dr Ati Bin Atiya Al Qarshi, spokesperson for the Makkah police.
“When the security men intervened to end the fight, they were attacked by several people, resulting in several injuries that needed medical treatment at the hospital,” he said, quoted by Saudi news site Al Marsad on Friday.
An investigation was launched and the officers were able to arrest five people who were implicated in the assault, Al Qarashi said.
“The investigators have also been able to identify other aggressors who had fled the scene, but they will be arrested. All parties have provided their testimonies about the incident.”
Khalid, a social media user, posted that the argument had started between a Saudi citizen and a Syrian.
“Suddenly, six Syrians and one Egyptian jumped into the fight and attacked the Saudi as well as the security men who rushed to end the dispute,” he posted, sparking angry reactions against foreigners who did not comply with the local laws. Several users called for emulating the Kuwaiti example and deport, without hesitation or delay, any foreigner involved in undermining public order.
However, Khalid’s account of what had happened at the mall was not supported by any official statement.
