Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A large number of people attended the burial of Ahmad Al-Kuraikri, who died in a street brawl in Al-Hamadaniya district of north Jeddah last week. The victim was laid to rest in Wadi Gdaid cemetery. The family of the victim said they would receive condolences at their home in Al-Nuzha district. Kuraikri, 25, was a final year university student. Police released his body to the family for burial after investigations into the street fight and eventual murder concluded. Informed sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that police were currently investigating 16 people who were present at the scene. The Public Prosecution detained six people who directly participated in the fight and took their statements. The fight, which took place in Al-Majed Street in Al-Hamadaniya, sparked public outrage especially as it ended in a cold-blooded murder. The fight started with an argument over parking space in front of a building for furnished apartments for rent. People fought in the middle of the street with white weapons, stabbing each other. Despite many attempts by witnesses present at the scene to separate the men and put an end to the fight, it ended up in the murder of Al-Kuraikri and several others being sent to hospital. Police who arrived at the scene had to fire warning shots in the air to stop the fight. Kuraikri received stabs in many parts of his body including his rib cage below the left armpit, which killed him instantly on the spot. According to witnesses, the fight started over a dispute over parking space in front of an abaya shop run by Kuraikri. The man protested when his would-be attackers came and parked their cars in front of his store saying their action harmed his business. A relative of the victim engaged the men in a dialogue and tried to reason out with them. When all attempts for reconciliation failed, the relative contacted the police. As the argument heated up, one of the men suddenly took out a knife and stabbed Kuraikri, sparking the street fight. Police seized the murder weapon and recorded testimonies from witnesses on the scene. According to sources, the attackers and the victims both lived in the same apartment building where the abaya store is located. Many social media activists called on the authorities to hand down the maximum punishment to those responsible for the fight and to apply capital punishment on the killer.
