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Several Britons killed in Saudi bus crash Several Britons killed in Saudi bus crash
(35 minutes later)
At least six British citizens have been killed in a minibus crash in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Office has confirmed.At least six British citizens have been killed in a minibus crash in Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Office has confirmed.
Reports that a seventh person was also killed in the crash have not yet been confirmed. It is understood the dead include four people from one family in Manchester and two others from Glasgow. A baby less than two months old is thought to be one of the seven. Reports that a seventh person was also killed have not yet been confirmed. It is understood the dead include four people from one family in Manchester and a couple from Glasgow. A baby around two months old is thought to be one of the Manchester four.
Glasgow Central Mosque named the Scottish victims as Mohammad and Talat Aslam, parents of five, from the Newlands area of the city.
The bus was carrying 12 passengers between Mecca and Medina when it crashed on Wednesday. The Manchester-based tour operators Haji Tours said the group was performing the Umrah, a pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca.The bus was carrying 12 passengers between Mecca and Medina when it crashed on Wednesday. The Manchester-based tour operators Haji Tours said the group was performing the Umrah, a pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca.
Two other children are believed to have been injured. The driver of the minibus survived. The injured, one of whom who was said to be still in critical condition, were taken to Medina hospital. Two children are believed to have been injured. The driver of the minibus survived. The injured, one of whom who was said to be still in critical condition, were taken to Medina hospital.
A spokesman for Haji Tours, which is arranging for family members to travel to Saudi Arabia as soon as possible, said: “We are sharing our sorrow with the family affected.A spokesman for Haji Tours, which is arranging for family members to travel to Saudi Arabia as soon as possible, said: “We are sharing our sorrow with the family affected.
“We hope God forgives them and gives them the best place possible in paradise. We share our grief with them and give them courage at this terrible time.”“We hope God forgives them and gives them the best place possible in paradise. We share our grief with them and give them courage at this terrible time.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the families of six British people who have sadly died following a road accident in Saudi Arabia. We are also helping several more British nationals who were injured in the crash. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families at this very difficult time.”A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are supporting the families of six British people who have sadly died following a road accident in Saudi Arabia. We are also helping several more British nationals who were injured in the crash. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families at this very difficult time.”
Mohammad Arif, director of the tour operator, said the group had been travelling in a 14-seater 2016 Toyota Hiace, operated by a Saudi company, when one of the vehicle’s tyres burst on the motorway 90 miles from Medina city.
He said his company – which provides package tours for Muslims wishing to go on a pilgrimage to Mecca – had arranged the whole trip, including visas, accommodation and transportation and it had been in constant contact with the Saudi authorities about the accident.
Of the victims, one is thought to be a baby boy, two are men in their 60s and 70s, and three are women, one in her 40s and the other two in their 60s. Arif said the 12 people on the bus were all members of the same extended family.
“We are very, very sorry for them. It is a big lost for the family. We have no words, no words. This was an accident,” said Arif.
Glasgow Central Mosque released a statement paying tribute to Mohammad and Talat Aslam. “Mr Mohammad Aslam and Mrs Talat Aslam of Glasgow, the parents of Shehla, Saba, Omar, Osman and Haroon, have returned to the mercy of Allah,” it read.
“On Wednesday 18 January they had just completed Umrah and were travelling in a minibus to visit our beloved prophet’s masjid in Medina. Tragically they were involved in a fatal accident. Four members of another family from Manchester were also killed in this tragedy.”