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Saudi police release boy arrested for dancing the Macarena

Saudi interior ministry says boy had endangered his life and the lives of others with performance in Riyadh
The video was shared widely on social media (screengrab)
Par MEE staff

A 14-year-old boy has been released by Saudi police after questioning over a video showing him dancing to the song "Macarena" at a traffic intersection, the interior ministry said on Wednesday.

The boy was filmed dancing to the 1990s song in front of five lanes of cars stopped at a traffic light in Riyadh's Prince Mohamed bin Abdulaziz Road, in a clip widely shared on social media.

The video first appeared online in 2016, but was later removed.

Police had said the teenager, whose name and nationality were not given, was being questioned because he had shown "improper public behaviour" and disrupted traffic.

Police spokesman colonel Ati bin Atiya al-Qarshi said that the "accused" had been arrested, after relevant evidence had been gathered, and "confidential investigations" had been completed. 

An interior ministry statement said the boy had been released without charge, after he and his legal guardian were summoned for questioning.

"They signed a written pledge that the teen will not engage in behaviour that could endanger his life and the life of others again," it said.

"The notification was solely intended to warn the boy about potential consequences for his own safety, as well as to safeguard the overall safety of motorists and pedestrians."

Earlier this month, a Saudi entertainer was arrested by Saudi authorities for "dabbing", a popular dance move, at a concert in the country's western city of Taif.  

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