RIYADH, 17 September 2003 — The majority of the inmates killed in Monday’s prison fire were Saudis, a high-level security source told Arab News.
There were Bangladeshi, Yemeni and Egyptian expatriates among the victims, many of whose bodies were charred beyond recognition.
Investigators have ruled out sabotage as a cause of the blaze that swept through Al-Hair Reformatory, one of the Kingdom’s biggest prisons located about 30 km south of the capital.
Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Harithy, director general of prisons, said the fire started when a sponge mattress caught fire in a cell housing 20 inmates in Wing 19. There are 22 cells in Wing 19 where the majority of inmates were between the ages of 17 and 22. They were being held for crimes ranging from murder to theft.
One official said there were no suspected militants in the prison and that most of the inmates were charged with criminal and drug offenses. He added that no prisoner had escaped in the chaos following the blaze.
Al-Nadwah newspaper quoted a security source as saying that there were 170 inmates in the wing at the time of the fire.
The relatives of inmates can call 01-206-5555 (extensions 1400 and 1404) to inquire about their loved ones.
The prison yesterday allowed visits by relatives.
