Two Bangladeshis killed in Riyadh airport blast

Two Bangladeshis were killed and several others injured in a powerful explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Saturday, diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Riyadh confirmed.

The explosion occurred around 11am local time on October 10, prompting authorities to evacuate passengers from parts of the airport.

The identities of the two Bangladeshis have yet to be confirmed. Officials are trying to determine whether they were migrant workers or Umrah pilgrims.

According to sources, a group of 41 Bangladeshi Umrah pilgrims was waiting at the airport to travel from Riyadh to Jeddah when the explosion shook the terminal building.

The pilgrims were reportedly teachers at Jamia Arabia Rabiu Ul Ulum, a madrasa in Keraniganj, Dhaka.

Sources said the explosion was caused by a ballistic missile strike that hit an airport terminal directly. Eleven people were also reported missing, raising concerns that the death toll could increase.

Reuters, citing an eyewitness, reported that several injured people were seen lying on the airport floor following the explosion. More than a dozen ambulances were also seen rushing towards the airport.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group struck King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, with the missile hitting Terminal 3. Saudi officials confirmed to the newspaper that the attack directly struck one of the airport’s main facilities.

Passengers were evacuated from the airport following the incident.