Saudi shoots down drone, to enforce new regulations

◗ Toy aircraft flew close to palace ◗ Videos of shooting triggered speculation of possible coup

Riyadh, April 22: Saudi Arabia was finalising regulation for the use of recreational drones, state media said on Sunday, after a toy aircraft sparked security alarm as it hovered close to royal palaces in Riyadh.

“The regulation for the use of remote controlled drones is in its final stages,” the Saudi Press Agency said, citing the interior ministry.

Until the new guidelines are adopted, drone enthusiast must obtain police permission to fly their devices in “permitted sites” only, the ministry said. The statement comes a day after the kingdom said it shot down an unidentified toy drone that hovered over a neighbourhood home to royal palaces in the capital Riyadh.

Unconfirmed videos on social media appeared to show heavy volleys of gunfire in the neighbourhood, triggering speculation of a possible coup attempt.

But the government ruled out any major security breach, adding that an investigation had been launched into the incident. The Saudi civil aviation authority in 2015 banned the use of remotely controlled drones “of all types and sizes” without prior permits. Security around the palaces appears to have tightened in recent months as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman oversees landmark social and economic reforms to prepare for a post- oil era, despite the risk of riling religious hardliners.

The powerful 32- yearold prince has also overseen a major military shake- up and a royal purge as he consolidates power to a degree well beyond that wielded by previous rulers.

Riyadh, April 22: Saudi forces on Saturday shot down an unidentified toy drone that hovered over a Riyadh neighbourhood home to royal palaces, state media said, prompting a security alarm in the capital.

“At 1950 ( 1650 GMT) a security checkpoint in Khuzama neighbourhood of Riyadh spotted a recreational remote- controlled drone,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

“Security personnel at the checkpoint dealt with it according to their orders and instructions in this regard,” SPA added, implying that the drone had been shot down.

The statement followed unconfirmed videos on social media that appeared to show heavy volleys of gunfire in that neighbourhood, triggering speculation of a possible coup attempt.

But the government ruled out any major security breach, adding that an investigation had been launched into the incident.

Government officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the whereabouts of the Saudi king and crown prince during the incident. Security around the palaces appears to have tightened in recent months as powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman oversees landmark social and economic reforms to prepare for a post- oil era, despite the risk of riling religious hardliners.

The 32- year- old prince has also overseen a major military shake- up and a royal purge as he consolidates power to a degree well beyond that wielded by previous rulers.

Last October a gunman shot dead two Saudi guards and wounded three others at the gate of the royal palace in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, according to the interior ministry.

Royal guards killed the gunman, identified by the ministry as a 28- year- old Saudi national armed with a Kalashnikov and three grenades.

Saudi Arabia is also embroiled in a long- running conflict with Iranbacked Huthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen, dubbed by the United Nations as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.