LONDON STILL SAFE FOR ARAB VISITORS, UK POLICE OFFICER TELLS DUBAI EVENT
▶ Metropolitan Police commander speaks after the killing of an Omani student in the British capital
A senior British police officer sought to reassure Arab tourists visiting London after the fatal stabbing of an Omani student in Knightsbridge.
Metropolitan Police Commander Mark McEwan was at a crime-prevention event in Dubai when he was asked about the killing of Mohammed Al Araimi.
“I want to reassure people that London is still a very safe city … one of the safest cities in the world, particularly for our friends coming from the UAE,” he told The National yesterday.
He said previous attacks on Emiratis and other Arabs were isolated and usually carried out by people acting alone.
Al Araimi, the son of a prominent businessman in Oman, was walking home from a restaurant with a Bahraini friend on Friday when they were approached by two men who tried to rob them.
His friend was treated in hospital and later discharged. An investigation is ongoing.
The UAE embassy in London this week urged Emiratis to be vigilant and to avoid wearing valuable items that might attract attention.
Al Araimi’s family insist their son was not killed in relation to a robbery, however, saying his possessions were not taken during the attack.
Cdr McEwan said his participation in the Dubai Police conference, which brought together top law-enforcement officials from across the globe, was unrelated to the incident in west London on Friday. He also said crucial police work had driven down crime in many communities.
“It’s very important that we build relations not just with our own communities and throughout London, but across the world,” he said.
“And it’s important we encourage further learning from each other, further information sharing, working together and building a learning community internationally.”
At the same event in Dubai Festival City, Dubai Police shared initial results of its AIproject called Oyoon – Eyes – that seamlessly connects thousands of CCTV cameras across the emirate.
The plan links cameras operated by traffic authorities, public transport operators and tourist attractions.
“Cameras using automatic facial recognition technology were very successful in achieving a crackdown on crime,” said Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, Assistant Chief of Dubai Police.
Marc Goodman, a security adviser who has worked as resident futurist for the FBI, said advances in technology leave criminals nowhere to turn and help the public feel safer.
“Dubai Police is very focused on crime prevention and cyber crime and has made great advances,” he said.
Mr Goodman said Dubai was leveraging technology to protect the public and give people the tools they need to be able to protect themselves.
“These services bring police into the neighbourhoods and closer to people who don’t want to see police face to face,” he said.
I want to reassure people that London is still a very safe city … particularly for our friends coming from the UAE MARK McEWAN Metropolitan Police Commander