Two sisters aged nine and 14 died Friday following a land mine explosion in the desert region of Al-Moaliyah in Arar, north of the Kingdom.

Brig. Gen. Bandar Al-Idaa, security spokesman for the northern border police, said the Faisaliah police station was notified by officials at Arar Central Hospital that a family had brought in two bodies by noon.

Al-Idaa’ said specialists were dispatched to the hospital. Upon investigation, it appeared that the two girls died while playing with an object that exploded in the Al-Moaliyah area, 40 km southeast of Arar.

“Multiple injuries to the face, head and chest were found upon medical examination. Specialists from arms, explosives and criminal units were dispatched to the scene. Investigation teams found evidence of an exploded military mortar bomb. The area has been sealed off and investigation is under way to find out more information about the incident,” he said.

“The explosion occurred while the girls were playing with an unidentified object 500 meters away as we were preparing lunch during a family picnic. I couldn’t believe my eyes. My son took the girls to Arar Central Hospital. This is God’s will,” said Naif Al-Hazimi, the victims’ father.

Fahad Al-Shammari, official spokesman at the Health Affairs Directorate at the Northern Border, confirmed that the girls were brought to Arar Central Hospital’s emergency department. They died from injuries to the head and abdomen, he said.