A strong explosion in Jeddah causes concern
A petroleum factory owned by Aramco was hit by an explosion today in Jeddah, just a few hundred meters from the racetrack. The attack is believed to have been carried out by Houthi rebels, a military group from Yemen, who have been targeting Aramco's infrastructure for several days.
During the first practice session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, a strong explosion reverberated in the city of Jeddah. The cause was a fire that broke out in an Aramco factory, the Saudi Arabian hydrocarbon giant, which is also a sponsor of Aston Martin and Formula 1. The facilities were presumably struck by a missile.
#Breaking | A few minutes ago, the Houthis attacked Jeddah and hit Aramco’s petroleum facilities in Jeddah, west Saudi Arabia, a loud explosion was heard and a fire broke out. pic.twitter.com/IW0nivmxVt
— WorldNews IL (@WorldNewsIL) March 25, 2022
According to local media, the explosion is said to have been caused by the Houthi rebels. This military group from Yemen has been opposing the Saudi government for several years. Supported by Iran, they have targeted several Aramco installations in recent days and are targeting Jeddah due to the presence of Formula 1 drivers and the media attention that the attack could generate.
Formula 1 has not yet commented on these events and is awaiting further information from local authorities, as well as an official confirmation that the Houthis are responsible. Measures may be taken to ensure the security of the Grand Prix this Sunday (7pm French time).
Aucune confirmation officielle..la F1 attend plus d’informations des autorités mais un gros nuage de fumée à quelques kilomètres seulement du circuit…#rtbfsport @f1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/srHGpI6EF1
— VIGNERON GAETAN (@VIGNERONGAETAN) March 25, 2022
According to “Arab News”, there are no casualties and the fire is reportedly under control.
