Nod for security agents on Gulf Air

Manama : MPs yesterday gave the green light to a proposal to provide special undercover security agents on Gulf Air flights, after almost two years of discussion with the authorities.

The proposal instructs to provide all flights of the national carrier with armed secret agents, with the aim of preventing terrorist attacks and hijack attempts.

Submitted by the Head of Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee in the House of Representatives, Abdulla Binhowail, in November, 2015, the proposal stipulates the formation of a new agency under the supervision of Interior Ministry.

“The proposal comes in line with the increasing terrorist threats that target airplanes and are increasingly witnessed by the world and the region in recent years. We must take precautionary procedures to protect our national carrier and its passengers from terrorist attacks and kidnapping attempts. Forming this specialised public agency, to operate under Interior Ministry’s umbrella, would sure serve this purpose,” Binhowail told DT News earlier.

The proposal was passed during the regular meeting of the council yesterday and will be referred to Shura Council, the second branch of the Legislative Authority in the Kingdom.