MANAMA, 14 January 2006 — Bahrainis yesterday mourned the death of the monarch’s 13-year-old son Sheikh Faisal ibn Hamad Al-Khalifa who died a day earlier in a car collision. Despite the government’s decision not to declare a three-day period of mourning, businesses and organizers of social events canceled all their Eid festivities as gloom set in late Thursday night as news of the boy’s death spread.
The 13-year-old prince, who was about to turn 14 in February, was killed in a car accident Thursday afternoon when the car he was traveling in collided with a bus driven by a 39-year-old Pakistani.
Sheikh Faisal, the sixth of seven sons, was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at the BDF Hospital, while his bodyguard who was driving the car remains in critical condition.
Sources said the driver of the bus had changed lanes suddenly as he attempted to make a left turn, causing the prince’s car to veer off the Zallaq Road and hit a large road sign. All sporting activities by local clubs were suspended following the young prince’s death, who was known for his love for sports.
Sheikh Faisal was the honorary president of the Bahrain Sports Federation for the Handicapped and Chairman of the Endurance Committee and was an athlete himself. The young prince was known for his love for falconry, Arabian horses and poetry.
Funeral prayers were said yesterday at the Sheikh Isa Mosque in Riffa in the attendance of the king, senior royal family and government members and Saudi National Security Secretary-General Prince Bandar ibn Sultan.
The simple funeral ended with the burial of the young prince at Riffa cemetery. Later in the day, King Hamad received dignitaries and members of the public who came to offer their condolences.
