Many activists on social media denounced the incident on social media and called for stern action against those involved in the assault of women at an orphanage in Khamis Mushayt, in the southern Asir region.

Saudi Press Agency reports that Prince Turki Bin Talal on Wednesday ordered the establishment of a committee to investigate the beatings captured in the online video and refer the case to the competent authorities. The emir also instructed that the investigation must include all parties involved in the incident.

Saudi Public Prosecution's information crimes wing has begun verifying the authenticity of the video circulating online, according to an official source.

Its monitoring center reviewed the video clips that included a previous incident at the orphanage for information content. “The concerned Public Prosecution wing handled an earlier incident of destroying public money at the orphanage and the case is still under investigation,” the source said while emphasizing the inviolability of physically or morally harming the arrested persons, and prohibited humiliating treatment.

The source also stressed at the same time the need to preserve public money from felony. “The Public Prosecution is proceeding with its judicial procedures to protect society and preserve public money, and continues its judicial role to take care of the guarantees that are entitled to the detainees,” the source added.

Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) has formed a team to investigate the incident and is following up with great concern on the issue.

The commission drew attention to the order of Asir Emir to probe all aspects of the incident that took place at an orphanage for young women. The HRC confirmed that it is working, in partnership with the relevant authorities, to address all the issues involved in this incident.

A video that went viral on social media shows men holding down women wearing black abayas while others lashing them with leather belts. It was not clear if the men were security officials or government employees.

In other clips, men chased women across the orphanage. It was not immediately clear what led to the incident or when it took place. The authenticity of the videos is also yet to be confirmed.

On social media, activists shared videos with the caption "storming of an orphanage in Khamis Mushayt for young women.".