Riyadh Airport Evacuated After Reported Blast; Injuries Reported
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was evacuated following a loud blast heard on Saturday, with reports of injuries amid an escalation of Houthi rebel attacks. Saudi authorities have not officially commented on the blast, but western embassies have issued warnings and multiple airlines have suspended or diverted flights.
Key points
- A blast was reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, prompting an evacuation.
- Reports from international news agencies and a local hospital source indicate several people were injured, while a local hospital source told AFP dozens were wounded.
- Saudi authorities have not officially confirmed the attack, but western embassies have warned citizens away from the airport.
- Aviation tracker Flightradar showed all flights to Riyadh diverted or cancelled, and several Gulf airlines, including Kuwait Airways, suspended flights.
What happened
King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was evacuated after a loud blast was heard on Saturday, according to two international news agencies. Reuters reported that more than a dozen ambulances rushed to the airport, citing an eyewitness. A source at a local hospital told AFP that dozens of people had been wounded in the suspected attack.
Latest update
Saudi authorities have not officially commented on the incident, but the airport advised passengers to check with their airlines before traveling. Western embassies in Saudi Arabia have warned their citizens to stay away from the facility. Flight tracking data from Flightradar shows that all flights to Riyadh have been diverted or cancelled, and several Gulf airlines, including Kuwait Airways citing the security situation, have cancelled flights to and from the airport.
What we know
The suspected airport incident follows a series of recent attacks. Authorities reported that three Saudi nationals, including a pilot, were killed in two previous Houthi attacks. Another three people were killed in attacks on two Saudi airports on October 6 and 7. The escalation coincides with renewed fighting between Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces and the Houthis.
What remains unclear
There is no official confirmation of an attack from Saudi authorities regarding Saturday's blast at Riyadh's airport, and the exact total of casualties remains unverified by official government channels.
