JEDDAH, 1 May 2005 — A gas cylinder explosion ripped through a busy shopping complex in Jeddah’s Khalediya district last night. At least two people were injured, three shop units were badly damaged and nearby cars had windows blown out.

The explosion occurred at about 8.45 p.m. in the Shawarmat restaurant located in a line of shops facing directly onto Al-Rawda Street opposite the northern perimeter wall of Saudia City. The restaurant is located immediately next to a popular suburban Khalediya shopping complex, known locally as Filipino Souk.

The National Guard and police were on the scene very soon after the explosion together with several unmarked white official cars. Many witnesses at the scene were full of praise for the police and troops for the rapidity of their response and the way they took immediate charge of the scene.

Eyewitnesses say that the explosion occurred after Isha prayers ended and staff were returning to reopen the shops.

Witnesses from the FedEx premises located next to the Shawarmat restaurant say that the gas had leaked from the cooking ranges and when the lights were switched on, the place exploded.

The report was later confirmed by a three-star fire officer on the site who said that the cause of the explosion was gas leaks.

According to a Saudia City resident who arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion, glass from the shattered shop windows spread entirely across two carriageways and the median strip. “There was no smoke or flame visible and people were standing around in quiet groups looking slightly stunned.”

The souk is normally crowded with families out shopping and visiting the restaurants late at night. One passer-by observed that the damage, though extensive, was limited by the roadworks in front of the line of restaurants where the explosion occurred and restricted the number of cars that could find parking spaces.

As well as the destruction of the Shawarmat restaurant, the premises of FedEx, Amer Optical and the American Corner were badly hit. The Fuji Film processing shop was very badly damaged, but the Kodak shop — also close to the explosion — was almost completely unscathed.

One family had a lucky escape, leaving the American Corner seconds before the blast blew the plate glass window over their seats; the remains of their meal could still be seen amid the shards of glass.

The manager of the nearby Taj Mahal Palace restaurant described how some panicked families ran from the restaurant without paying the bill. He was, however, fulsome in his praise of the security forces and emergency services. “The National Guard arrived in seconds,” he said, “quickly followed by the fire and ambulance crews. It was very reassuring.”

The explosion is the second time in a week that emergency services have been called to the area. On Friday, a fire broke out in a clothing shop on the upper floor of the Khalediya center. Little damage was done and fire services quickly had the situation under control.