Saudi religious police chief escapes bid on life

The chief of Saudi Arabia’s feared religious police escaped a bid on his life in August by old guards opposing his reforms within the security system, a newspaper in the Gulf kingdom reported on Wednesday.

Abdul Lateef Al Shaikh, chairman of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, escaped unscathed after a car tried to run him over just as he was leaving a mosque after performing dawn prayers, Alwatan said.

“The assassination attempt has been confirmed… it followed news that a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood intended to liquidate Al Shaikh after his decision to sack some Brotherhood leaders in the Commission,” the paper said, quoting reliable sources.

It said those leaders were opposed to reforms implemented by Al Shaikh, including stopping Commission cops from chasing cars on roads and halting part time agents.

“The Commission Presidency will disclose all details of the reforms in the next period… it is believed that the reforms harmed the interests of the opponents who are described by the sources as a fifth column… they used to collect donations in the name of the Commission to serve private interests,” it said.