Saudi attaché,
renowned author in stable condition after assassination attempt
By
Dominic I. Sanchez
ZAMBOANGA
CITY, March 2 (PIA) – Renowned international Islamic scholar and author Dr. Aid
Al-Quarni and Saudi Arabian religious attaché Sheik Turki Assaegh are now in
stable condition in a local private hospital here after an assassination
attempt last night by local gunmen, reports revealed.
Dr.
Al-Quarni had just delivered a message at the Western Mindanao State University
(WMSU) in a symposium when a gunman shot him and his companion in a vehicle.
The
suspected gunman was shot dead by police immediately afterwards, while two
others who were seen fleeing the scene were arrested by the authorities.
The
suspects are said to be pedicab drivers from barangays Sta. Barbara and
Taguiti.
Dr.
Al-Quarni was shot three times in different parts of his body while Sheik
Assaegh was shot two times.
Local
officials here are concerned over the implications of this incident. An
inter-agency meeting was called this morning by the local government.
Meanwhile,
city councilors Jawo Jimenez and Charlie Mariano pointed out lapses in the
security procedures in the university.
“There
are lapses,” said Jimenez.
“This
is not new to WMSU,” Mariano pointed out. “There have been other similar
incidents in the past and police should have already put in place security
measures in the area.”
In
a report by ABS-CBN, Dr. Al-Quarni is said to be in an Islamic State hit list.
He is a supporter of the Saudi Arabian government, and currently has over 12
million followers on Twitter.