A member of the Saudi border guards force looks through binoculars on Saudi Arabia’s northern borderline with Iraq.

The Kingdom is safe and secure from potential terrorist threats although it has stepped up precautionary measures in recent weeks in the wake of growing extremist violence in Iraq, senior Interior Ministry officials have told the local media.

The assurance came as the officials accused some media websites of spreading inaccurate information.
Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman at the Ministry of Interior, acknowledged that preventive measures were being enforced in and around all strategic facilities that might be potential targets for terrorist attacks.

But this does not imply that there is evidence about possible occurrence of an act of terrorism, he was quoted as saying in the local media.

These alert procedures fall within the framework of the responsibilities of the Ministry of Interior to maintain the country’s security and stability, he asserted,

Local media earlier reported that the command center of the Ministry of Interior had ordered security guards to increase protection for all key facilities in the country, including ministries, headquarters of biotechnology companies, and other major institutions in the Kingdom.

According to sources, cited by the media, the Higher Commission for Industrial Security in the General
Establishment for Water Desalination had also urged the managers of all desalination plants to strengthen security at all stations and facilities.

The General Establishment for Water Desalination intensified inspection procedures and issued directives to verify all people and vehicles accessing the facilities in the wake of the latest developments.

Officials moved to allay concerns after unconfirmed media reports said an IS cadre operating in Iraq’s conflict areas had requested his family living in the Kingdom to leave their areas to escape terrorist attacks.

Local media said Ehsan Al-Maghrab, director general of the General Directorate for Industrial Security, ordered all officials and administrators to enhance security at all facilities.

 
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