Saudi Arabia has reportedly awarded the British security firm G4S a deal to make electronic bracelets for millions of pilgrims who have to wear them while travelling to Mecca to perform the annual Hajj.
Since British security group maintains close cooperation with the Israeli spy agencies, the bracelets will contain personal and medical information which can be accessed by security and services bodies via a smartphone. According to Saudi officials, the pilgrims should wear the device upon arriving in the country until they leave it. The high-tech measure, they say, will help authorities provide care “and identify people.”
According to the Saudi Gazette newspaper, wristlets are resistant and connected to a GPS location system.
The electronic bracelet was introduced by the Saudi government late June. It followed a stampede last year in which thousands of pilgrims lost their lives.
Saudi authorities have also installed more than 800 surveillance cameras at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.
Cameras have been installed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque and will be linked to control rooms staffed by special forces monitoring pilgrim movements during Hajj rituals.
