JEDDAH, 17 September 2004 — IKEA has owned up responsibility for the death of Khaled Abdullah Ba Mahmoud who died in the stampede at the recent opening of the furniture giant’s new branch on Tahliya Street, Okaz newspaper reported.
The company also expressed its readiness to pay financial compensation to the next of kin of the deceased.
The victim’s family said that the governorate of Makkah had transferred the stampede case to a private court. After investigation, an IKEA representative admitted to the company’s mistake and promised to pay appropriate financial compensation or what the court orders.
Okaz said police are now waiting for the family to produce succession documents to dispose of the case. The daily quoted the victim’s elder brother as saying that the family would accept proper compensation in cash.
Two people were killed and 16 injured in the Sept.1 stampede during the opening of the IKEA showroom. The rush was triggered by an offer for the first 50 shoppers to receive SR500 in vouchers. An IKEA statement said more than 20,000 people showed up.
The Swedish furniture showroom had mounted a big pre-opening ad campaign with the offer SR500 vouchers to first 50 shoppers and SR100 vouchers to 200 others as part of its usual free gift scheme. Well before the opening that was set at 10 a.m., the three-meter entrance gate was opened.
