Jeddah Police have rejected a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which claimed that over 1000 Egyptian expats had gathered in front of Al-Kandarah police station to express anger over the delay in the burial of three Egyptian nationals. The three Egyptians were accidentally killed in a sewage project inside a residential building in downtown Jeddah. Brig. Misfer Juaid, Jeddah Police spokesman, strongly rejected the credibility of Egypt's statement stressing to Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the police had not witnessed any notable gathering, let alone one that numbered over a thousand people. Egypt's Foreign Ministry had issued a statement stating that “the Egyptian Consulate in Jeddah defused a clash between Egyptians and Saudi police” and that “intervention by the Egyptian Consulate led to finalizing the procedures of the burial.” The statement said, “Due to accidental death, the Saudi authorities required a forensic report to determine the causes of death before authorizing burial, which led to a delay, resulting in a gathering of more than 1000 Egyptians in front of Al-Kandarah police station in Jeddah. This led to an intervention by the Egyptian Consulate to avoid an escalation of the tense situation.” The statement credited Yasir Goma'a Alwani, legal adviser at the Egyptian Consulate, of meeting with police authorities to expedite the burial procedures. However, when contacted by Okaz/Saudi Gazette, Alwani refrained from making a comment. “I am not authorized to talk to the media,” he said. Ali Osheiri, the Egyptian Consul General, said, “The message we would like to emphasize is that there is collaboration with Saudi authorities, which we appreciate.” Osheiri explained that families of the deceased were very anxious about the burial, while the Saudi authorities wanted forensic reports. According to the police, “Three Egyptian maintenance technicians who were working on cleaning sewerage pipes in a residential building poured ‘industrial acid' inside the pipes last Tuesday. The resulting toxic fumes asphyxiated all of them which led to their demise. The concerned authorities ensured that there was no criminal cause and that the bodies were delivered to their families last Saturday for immediate burial.” __
