18 injured in Riyadh riots

Eighteen people, including Saudis, were injured when riots erupted in Souk Hijab in Riyadh’s Naseem district Saturday night.
A group of illegal African workers, most of them Ethiopians, started inciting Saudis that led to the clashes.
The Ethiopians provoked Saudis at the Souk that triggered the clashes, said an eyewitness. Several people suffered injuries in the clashes and were admitted to a local city hospital. One of them is said to be critical.
The eyewitness said: “The situation was brought under control after a number of rioters were detained by the police.”
About unconfirmed reports of the death of any policeman or worker, Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Interior Ministry, said: “I have not heard about any casualty … Riyadh police will be able to provide more details.”
Arab News could not reach the Riyadh police chief for comment, but there were unconfirmed reports that five persons including a policeman were killed in the clashes.
A Saudi, who was at the souk during the clashes said: “Tension flared up when some workers harassed women and made nasty comments.”
Four people including two Ethiopians, one Saudi and one Sudanese have so far died during riots in Riyadh.

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