Many people were wounded in a blast at Riyadh international airport on Saturday, according to two eyewitnesses and two people briefed on the matter.
One eyewitness said they saw an explosion and then several injured people lying on the ground inside the terminal. More than a dozen ambulances were seen heading to the airport, and travellers were evacuated from parts of the facility.
The Saudi government media office and the civil aviation authority had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting. The cause of the blast has not been confirmed.
Kuwait Airways said it had cancelled flights KU775 and KU776 between Kuwait and Riyadh because the airport was closed due to the “security situation”. Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have also cancelled flights to Riyadh, some until Monday.
The airport was reportedly attacked twice earlier this week, leaving four people dead. Missile strikes by Yemen’s Houthi group on Saudi Arabia have also increased recently.
Saudi Arabia is a major destination for Sri Lankan migrant workers, and passengers travelling there are advised to check with their airlines before going to the airport.
Organisers of energy and investment conferences due to be held in Riyadh said the events would go ahead as planned.