Saudi court: Contractor in crane collapse not charged with negligence

ISTANBUL A Saudi Arabia court ruled Tuesday that there were no grounds for criminal negligence charges in a crane collapse that killed 107 people at the Islamic Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca over the weekend, broadcaster al Arabiya reported.

The Binladen Group, which managed the construction at the site, would not get further governmental contracts and members of the consortium would face travel restrictions pending further investigation, according to the report.

The Saudi-based multinational company, founded by the father of Osama bin Laden, is one of the largest construction conglomerates in the world.

A severe rainstorm has been suspected as the cause of Friday’s accident.

Families of the victims, who reportedly hail from countries that include Egypt, Pakistan and Iran, are due to receive one million riyals ($266,665) compensation, according to the broadcaster.

Some 238 people were wounded in the incident, which occurred 10 days before the annual Haj pilgrimage season.

More than 909,000 pilgrims have already arrived in Saudi Arabia for Haj rituals that are due to begin Sept. 21, according to official figures released on the weekend.

More than 1 million pilgrims are expected for this year’s Haj. The annual congregation is one of the world’s largest.

Last year, Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, started construction work to expand the Grand Mosque.

The mosque, Islam’s holiest site, has in its center, the cube-shaped Kaaba to which Muslims around the world direct their faces in their daily prayers.

Muslims are expected to perform the pilgrimage at least once during their lifetime if they have the means to do so.

Over the years, pilgrims in Saudi Arabia have lost their lives due to stampedes and fires. In recent years, the oil-rich kingdom has invested in making the pilgrimage rituals easier and safer. In 2006, a stampede killed nearly 350 pilgrims.

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