Jakarta, ThedailyID — An attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, killed 12 people and injured 309 others on Saturday, October 10, according to Saudi authorities. The incident prompted a temporary suspension of airport operations and raised fresh concerns about aviation security.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the victims included four Saudi citizens, two Bangladeshi nationals, and one citizen each from the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan.
More than 300 people sustained injuries, with several reported to be in critical condition. Authorities said the injured were receiving treatment at hospitals, while officials continued assessing the damage caused by the attack.
The attack was the third targeting Riyadh’s international airport within a week. The two earlier incidents had killed four people, according to Saudi authorities.
The Houthis, a Yemen-based armed group backed by Iran, initially had not claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack. However, subsequent reports said the group claimed the strike as part of its escalating campaign against Saudi Arabia.
Reuters also reported that Saudi Arabia’s threat-warning system had issued no alert before the latest attack, raising questions about the country’s ability to detect and respond to incoming threats.
The airport’s temporary closure disrupted air travel, with passengers advised to check their flight status directly with airlines before heading to the airport.
The attack comes amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The latest casualties have heightened concerns about the safety of civilian infrastructure and the potential for further escalation across the region.
