A blast at Riyadh's international airport in Saudi Arabia on Saturday left multiple people injured, according to eyewitnesses and people briefed on the incident. Travellers were evacuated from parts of the facility following the explosion. One eyewitness reported seeing an explosion and subsequently finding several people lying injured on the ground inside the airport. The incident has raised concerns about the security situation in the region.
The blast came amid an escalation of missile strikes by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia. Riyadh airport had already been attacked twice earlier in the week, resulting in four deaths, others wounded, and an aircraft badly damaged. The Saudi government's media office and civil aviation authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident. The attacks have disrupted air travel ahead of major energy and investment conferences scheduled to take place in Riyadh.
More than a dozen ambulances were seen rushing to the airport, according to Reuters. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed that all flights to Riyadh had either been diverted or cancelled, with only a helicopter hovering over the airport at one point. The airport urged passengers to contact their airlines directly and check their flight status before travelling there. Several airlines, including Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways, cancelled flights to and from Riyadh due to the security situation.
The Houthis have urged airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, declaring it a zone of military operations after the Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an offensive against the group earlier this month. The attacks have caused significant disruptions to air travel in the region. Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways had also cancelled several flights between their respective hubs and Riyadh, with some cancellations extending into Monday.
Organisers of the major energy and investment conferences scheduled to take place in Riyadh sought to reassure attendees about security, stating that the conferences would proceed as planned. The incidents have raised concerns about the ability to ensure safety and security in the region. The conferences are expected to attract high-profile attendees and are seen as important events for the Saudi government.
The US had previously warned citizens in Saudi Arabia about the potential for Houthi attacks on airports. The incident at Riyadh airport is the latest in a series of attacks on Saudi airports and infrastructure. The Saudi government has not commented on the incident, but it is clear that the security situation in the region remains a concern.
The blast at Riyadh airport is a reminder of the ongoing security challenges in the region. The incident has caused significant disruptions to air travel and has raised concerns about the safety and security of travellers. The situation remains fluid, and travellers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information on flight schedules and security.
Key points
- Several people wounded in blast at Riyadh's international airport, travellers evacuated
- Blast came amid escalation of missile strikes by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia
- Conferences in Riyadh to proceed as planned, despite security concerns
