Six Muslim pilgrims were killed when the minibus they were traveling in crashed during a visit to Mecca.
There were 12 people in the vehicle which crashed in between the drive from Medina to the holy city.
Four members of the same family from Manchester, including a two-month-old baby, were among those killed. Two people in their 60’s from Glasgow also died in the crash.
The Manchester Evening News reports that all the victims were Muslim pilgrims on a pilgrimage organised by Haji Tours – a Manchester-based tour operator.
The company has today offered its condolences to the families of the victims who were partaking in Umrah, a pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca at any time of year, as opposed to the Haj, which this year will take place in August and early September.
A statement from the British Foreign Office today said:
“We are supporting the families of six British people who have sadly died following a road accident in Saudi Arabia. We are also helping several more British nationals who were injured in the crash. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families at this very difficult time”
