[gallery td_select_gallery_slide="slide" ids="62328,62329,62330,62331,62332,62333,62334"] Badea Abu Al-Naja Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The operations room of the special security forces of the Grand Mosque electronically monitors the security situation and the movement of pilgrims and visitors inside the mosque and in the surrounding plazas, according to its commander Maj. Mansour Al-Qahtani. "There is complete coordination with all security sectors inside the Grand Mosque, in the surrounding plazas and along the roads leading to the mosque to organize the movement of the masses," he said. Qahtani said the room contains many consoles which are connected to screens that show the activities in the Haram and outside 24/7. "The screens are linked to cameras which are installed in various areas in the Grand Mosque to monitor the movement of pilgrims and visitors," he said. Qahtani said there are consoles in the Haram's basement as well as in the ground and first floors, the roof and the expansion area to monitor the movement of pilgrims and visitors from the time they enter the mosque until their departure. He said representatives of the military and the civil defense connected to the service of Haj and Umrah pilgrims are present in the room. The presence of the all those concerned with Haj and Umrah services under one roof enables them to quickly coordinate their efforts. Commander of special forces Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Ahmadi said the operations room is responsible for the safety and security of the entire Grand Mosque. "The room is using surveillance cameras to closely monitor any activity in the Grand Mosque and the nearby areas," he said.
