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Trump orders Alcatraz prison to reopen to receive "the most dangerous criminals"

US President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered his administration officials to begin rebuilding and expanding the historic Alcatraz prison

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US President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered his administration officials to begin rebuilding and expanding the historic Alcatraz prison to accommodate America's "most dangerous criminals" six decades after it was closed, stressing that the country will not tolerate perpetrators of violent crimes.

US President Donald Trump has decided to reopen Alcatraz prison after sixty years of closure, directing the relevant agencies to renovate and expand the facility, located on a small island off the coast of San Francisco, to accommodate a larger number of prisoners.

Trump explained via his “Truth Social” platform that the facility would be dedicated to “America’s most ruthless and violent criminals,” while pledging to double the capacity of the prison, which was closed in 1963 due to high operating and maintenance costs.

Located about two kilometers from the city's beach, Alcatraz could accommodate only 336 guests and housed prominent figures such as Al Capone and witnessed escape attempts that became part of popular culture.

The president stressed that combating crime, particularly that related to illegal immigrants, remains central to his homeland security agenda, saying that the United States “when it was a more serious nation, removed the most dangerous criminals from the streets, and that is what should happen today.”.

He added in his post: “We will no longer tolerate serial criminals who sow chaos and bloodshed in our cities.”.

It is worth noting that Alcatraz has become a tourist attraction since its closure, drawing thousands of visitors annually. However, Trump's new plan will return it to its original function as a high-security federal prison, a move that observers believe is part of his broader efforts to tighten the grip on crime within the United States.

Alcatraz: From Prison to Museum

Alcatraz is an American federal prison, built on an island in San Francisco Bay, USA, known as Alcatraz Island or The Rock. This prison was closed in 1963 due to the escalating costs of managing and restoring its buildings.

Alcatraz Island is located in the heart of San Francisco Bay, about a mile and a quarter from the famous city of San Francisco in the western United States. It can be reached by a short trip via equipment that transports tourists from a dedicated port in San Francisco to the island's port.

The island's location boasts a beautiful view of San Francisco Bay from all sides, as well as a charming view of San Francisco and its lights at night, which is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

This prompted the US state of Illinois in 2018 to announce its desire to convert the Alcatzar prison into a museum for tourists.

The history of Alcatraz

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Since the discovery of the Americas and the arrival of the western coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the island remained almost deserted until the military governor of California bought it from the Mexican government in 1847. In 1854, a lighthouse was erected there, considered the first lighthouse on the Pacific coast.

Around the same time, the army began using the island as a fort and barracks, then as a military prison. In 1934, the administration was transferred from the Ministry of Defense to the Ministry of Justice, and for more than twenty-nine years the island and its buildings became the center of a federal prison, where the highest levels of discipline and strict security were observed.

Alcatraz was not a life sentence prison, but a temporary place to detain unruly criminals who rebelled against prison regulations, or who tried to escape, and who were a constant source of rioting and problems. After their wildness was tamed and their behavior corrected (which took an average of eight to ten years), they were transferred to other prisons.

Its main objective was to make the idea of ​​escape become impossible for the prisoner and to make him accustomed to prison life and the discipline within it; the prison also created a harsh feeling of deprivation in the prisoner who found himself lacking freedom, and being so far from the lights and noise of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Numbers and facts about the prison

The prison contains 378 cells (42 of which are for solitary confinement), yet the number of inmates averaged 260 and never exceeded 302.

1545 prisoners passed through this prison, all of whom left it (sooner or later) except for: 15 of them died a natural death while serving their sentence, 5 committed suicide, and 8 were killed by their fellow prisoners.

Meanwhile, thirty-six prisoners attempted to escape, in fourteen separate incidents, resulting (in addition to the previous figures): 8 dead, 2 executed, 5 whose fate is unknown.

Famous criminals

Many notorious criminals were imprisoned there, such as Al Capone, who stayed there from 1934 to 1938, then was transferred to the prison hospital, Wood Parker, "Machine Gun" George Kelly, Robert Stroud, and other celebrities who were among its patrons.

The Saudi News Network first launched on Twitter via its official account, @SaudiNews50, and quickly became one of the Kingdom's leading independent news sources, thanks to its fast and reliable coverage of major local and international events. Due to the growing trust of its followers, the network expanded by launching its website, a comprehensive news platform offering regularly updated content in the fields of politics, economics, health, education, and national events, presented in a professional style that meets the public's expectations. The network strives to enhance public awareness and provide accurate information in a timely manner through on-the-ground reporting, in-depth analysis, and a specialized editorial team, making it a trusted source for anyone seeking up-to-the-minute Saudi news.

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Faisal bin Farhan engages in dialogue with leaders of Munich Youth 2026 regarding international crises

The Saudi Foreign Minister participated in a dialogue session with Munich Youth Leaders as part of the Munich Security Conference 2026, reviewing the Kingdom’s positions on crises and the importance of constructive dialogue.

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Faisal bin Farhan engages in dialogue with leaders of Munich Youth 2026 regarding international crises

As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s active diplomatic efforts on the international stage, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated today (Saturday) in a strategic dialogue session with the “Munich Young Leaders” group, jointly organized by the Körber Foundation and the Munich Security Conference, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference 2026.

The Kingdom's vision towards global challenges

The dialogue session highlighted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's firm stances on various current regional and international crises. During the discussion, His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed the Saudi vision, which prioritizes dialogue and diplomacy in resolving conflicts, emphasizing the importance of intensifying "sincere and constructive dialogue" as the only way to overcome the common challenges facing the international community, from geopolitical tensions to issues of global security and stability.

The importance of the Munich Security Conference and the Kingdom's leading role

The Kingdom's participation in the Munich Security Conference is of paramount strategic importance, as this conference is the world's foremost platform for discussing international security policies. Prince Faisal bin Farhan's participation underscores Riyadh's pivotal role as a peacemaker and a reliable partner in maintaining regional and international security and stability. Through its ambitious Vision 2030, the Kingdom is working to build bridges of communication with all stakeholders, affirming that economic development and prosperity cannot be achieved in isolation from security and political stability.

Investing in future leaders

The dialogue with the “Munich Youth Leaders” is a significant forward-looking step, as this program brings together a select group of young minds and future decision-makers from around the world. The Foreign Minister’s keenness to meet with this group reflects the Kingdom’s belief in the importance of engaging rising generations in formulating innovative solutions to complex crises and conveying the Saudi perspective transparently to future leaders in global political and security circles.

High-level diplomatic presence

The session witnessed a notable Saudi diplomatic presence, with the participation of His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud Al Kabeer, Director General of the General Directorate of Policy Planning, reflecting the depth of the political discourse presented. Also present was Mr. Nawaf bin Khalid Al-Issa, a member of the Munich Youth Leaders 2026, highlighting the active Saudi presence not only at the leadership level but also among qualified young professionals in international forums.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues its balanced diplomatic approach, seeking through these international platforms to enhance multilateral cooperation and advance efforts to de-escalate tensions in various hotspots around the world.

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The Foreign Minister highlights the Kingdom's positions at the Munich Conference 2026

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a session with the leaders of Munich Youth 2026, reviewing the Kingdom's positions on crises and the importance of constructive dialogue to enhance international security.

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The Foreign Minister highlights the Kingdom's positions at the Munich Conference 2026

His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated today (Saturday) in a strategic dialogue session with the “Munich Young Leaders” group, which was organized by the Körber Foundation in cooperation with the Munich Security Conference, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in its 2026 edition.

The session featured extensive and in-depth discussions on the most prominent challenges facing the international system today. His Highness the Minister of Foreign Affairs reviewed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's firm and unwavering positions on various regional and international crises. During his remarks, His Highness emphasized the Saudi vision, which prioritizes sincere, transparent, and constructive dialogue as a cornerstone for overcoming the complex geopolitical obstacles facing the world, stressing that diplomatic solutions remain the optimal choice for ensuring global security and stability.

This participation is of particular importance given the Munich Security Conference's status as the world's leading forum for security policy, where decision-makers, heads of state, and ministers convene to discuss current and future threats. The Kingdom's active participation in this international forum reflects its pivotal and growing role as a regional and international force for peace, consistently striving to bridge divides and support efforts to defuse crises in the Middle East and the world.

In a related context, the Kingdom's engagement with the "Munich Youth Leaders" underscores Saudi diplomacy's belief in the importance of investing in future generations of global decision-makers. This platform provides a unique opportunity to explain the Saudi perspective on complex issues and to highlight the Kingdom's initiatives based on the principles of good neighborliness, respect for national sovereignty, and collective action to address shared challenges such as climate change, energy security, and combating terrorism.

This important meeting was attended by His Highness the Minister, the Director General of the General Administration for Policy Planning, His Highness Prince Dr. Abdullah bin Khalid bin Saud Al Kabeer, and a member of the Munich Youth Leaders for 2026, Professor Nawaf bin Khalid Al-Issa, reflecting the intensive and qualitative Saudi presence in all the conference activities to ensure that the Kingdom’s voice and its ambitious vision for the future are conveyed.

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Faisal bin Farhan meets with the US envoy in Munich 2026

Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan meets with US envoy Yehuda Kaplan at the Munich Security Conference 2026 to discuss promoting tolerance, and discusses the latest developments in Gaza with Nikolay Mladenov.

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Faisal bin Farhan meets with the US envoy in Munich 2026

As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's intensive diplomatic efforts on the international stage, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met today, Saturday, with the US Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, Yehuda Kaplan, on the sidelines of the 2026 Munich Security Conference. This meeting underscores the Kingdom's leading role in promoting international peace and security through constructive dialogue.

During the meeting, a comprehensive review was conducted of international efforts to promote the values ​​of dialogue and tolerance, as well as effective mechanisms to combat all forms of extremism and hatred. The two sides also discussed the importance of fostering understanding and coexistence among different peoples and cultures—principles that Saudi diplomacy has long championed as a cornerstone for achieving global stability. The Munich Security Conference, which hosted this meeting, is the world's leading platform for discussing international security policies, bringing together decision-makers and leaders to exchange views on current and future challenges.

In a related context concerning regional crises and peace efforts, the Foreign Minister held another meeting today with the High Representative of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nikolay Mladenov. The meeting included an in-depth discussion of the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the international and regional efforts underway to address them. The two sides also discussed ways to support de-escalation efforts and humanitarian work, with the aim of protecting civilians and achieving lasting security in the region.

These successive meetings in Munich reflect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to effective engagement with all influential international actors, whether in combating extremist ideology and promoting a culture of peace, or in addressing hotspots of tension and conflict in the Middle East. These initiatives underscore Riyadh's political weight and its ability to lead diplomatic efforts aimed at strengthening regional and international stability, particularly in light of the growing security challenges facing the world, which necessitate close cooperation and continuous coordination among states and international organizations.

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