Mohammed bin Naif — at the forefront of anti-terror efforts

JEDDAH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, deputy premier and interior minister, deserves the title of “royal military commander” for having been at the forefront of the fight against terrorists attempting to undermine
the country.

Prince Mohammed, who has received royal honors for his efforts, has considerable expertise in the security arena, having established one of the most advanced and effective services in the world.
There have been four attempts on his life, which he survived thanks to the grace of God. More than six years ago, during Ramadan, an extremist who claimed he wanted to turn himself in, blew himself up causing the prince slight injuries. He was also attacked by Al-Qaeda terrorists in Yemen.
Prince Mohammed has been widely credited for successfully taking on the most dangerous assignment ever to face an interior minister anywhere. Even as a deputy minister, he was able to combat the rising threat of Al-Qaeda in 2003.
Since assuming the role as head of counter-terrorism measures, Prince Mohammed has revamped the structure of the various agencies involved in keeping the country safe, including the revision of anti-terrorism legislation.
He has ensured a crackdown on terrorist organizations, with legal action taken against criminals in accordance with Islamic law, while tight restrictions were imposed on the manufacture, import, sale, trade and acquisition of weapons, ammunition, equipment and spare parts. This was in accordance with the arms and ammunition regulations issued in 1981 and updated in 2005.
Prince Mohammed has introduced several innovations to fight extremism and terrorism, including the adoption of modern technology, training by providing scholarships for Saudis to study abroad, and special courses in the Kingdom for officers.
Among the most recent changes, Prince Mohammed has made it easier for citizens and residents to take advantage of the Interior Ministry’s services, with most available online.
There has also been a smartphone application launched that allows citizens and residents to inform the ministry about any security, criminal or traffic reports directly and anonymously from their phones, either through a video or sound clip.
Officers have been tasked to receive and address these reports through 39 operation rooms across the country. Citizens and residents can also follow up on reports made through the app.
Prince Mohammed’s initiatives at the ministry have received widespread acclaim locally, regionally and globally. The Kingdom’s unique experiences have been used as a model by other countries in their efforts to fight terrorism.
The prince was formerly honored by the late King Fahd with a sash belonging to King Faisal for successfully storming and rescuing passengers on board a Russian plane hijacked at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah in 2001. The late King Abdullah awarded him the sash of King Abdulaziz in 2009.