Gun-toting beggars’ case sent to BIP

Mansour Al-Shehri
Okaz/Saudi Gazette
 

RIYADH — Three beggars who shot and wounded a police officer in Riyadh recently have been referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution (BIP).

The three Yemenis had illegally crossed into the Kingdom and made their way to Riyadh. They were running a network of beggars who would approach motorists at traffic lights asking for money.

When the three beggars were confronted by the police, one of them pulled a gun and shot the officer, injuring him in his arm. They managed to flee from the scene but were soon arrested. 

Police suspect that they smuggled the firearm across the border from Yemen. An intensive campaign against begging has been launched in the city following the shooting incident.