Blasts rock Saudi capital
Two large explosions shook the Saudi capital Riyadh tonight.
The first blast happened at about 8.35pm local time (5.35pm Irish Time) and shattered windows and sent smoke and flames rising into the sky near the Interior Ministry.
About an hour later, Gulf-based Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera television stations reported a second explosion in central Riyadh, this time near a troop recruiting office.
Saudi television said several security agents were slightly injured in the first blast. There were no immediate reports ofcasualties in the second.
The sirens of ambulances and police cars were heard in the area. Smoke was seen rising from a tunnel near the ministry, and three helicopters hovered. Police sealed off roads leading to the area.
Al-Arabiya reported that several people were injured and shooting was heard near the tunnel. Al-Jazeera reported it was a car bomb attack.
The Interior Ministry, a massive, modern high-rise block, was shown with its windows brightly lit in pictures broadcast from the scene by Saudi television.
The Saudi correspondent said windows of almost all the buildings close to the interior ministry were damaged and shrapnel fell far from the site.
| Related Stories: |
|
