Mishal Al-Otaibi Saudi Gazette RIYADH — A Saudi family sustained serious injuries in an explosion at a gas station in Al-Quway'iyah, 175 km southwest of Riyadh. The incident occurred as the family was traveling to Makkah along with seven other families to perform Umrah. The family, including Riyadh traffic policeman Abdullah Al-Maliki, his wife, their two daughters and domestic helper were all seriously injured as a result of the incident. Abdullah's brother Saeed said his sibling had stopped at a gas station in Al-Quway'iyah municipality. As the worker filled up Al-Maliki's car, a man stood right in front of his car, speaking agitatedly on the phone. The man called out to the station worker to remove the pump from his car so he could leave immediately, but the worker was busy attending to Al-Maliki's car. The man drove off hastily, and the pump dropped to the floor, leaking gasoline. Seconds later, the spilt gasoline caught fire and triggered an explosion that burned all of the cars in the station. People quickly hurried to Al-Maliki's burning car to get the family out. They were all badly burned and had to be transported to hospital quickly. An Egyptian expatriate transported the injured family to Al-Rowaidah General Hospital. Al-Maliki's brothers quickly arrived there and transferred the family to the Security Forces Hospital in Riyadh. Doctors operated on all of the family members. When their conditions stabilized, they were transferred to intensive care. Police sources said that an investigation has been launched to find the man suspected of triggering the explosion.
