Saudi Man Kills 11 People, Commits Suicide

J I D D A H, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 27 -- A Saudi man apparently distraughtover marital problems hunted down his wife at her sister’s home,where he killed her, their three daughters and seven other familymembers, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. The man latercommitted suicide.

In all, 12 people died in Tuesday’s shooting rampage, includingthe sister, her husband and their five children. The press agencydid not identify the man or his victims.

After the man killed his relatives in Jiddah, he fled to theMuslim holy city of Medina, 220 miles to the northeast, the agencyquoted the head of Mecca police, Gen. Saeed al-Qahtani, as saying.He took two children hostage in Medina, holding them on the roof ofa building and threatening to kill them if police officers gotclose, the report said.

Problems At Home

After officers persuaded him not to harm the children, he shothimself. Two pistols were found with him, the agency’s report said.

Al-Qahtani said there had been problems between the killer andhis wife. The wife left their home in Medina recently and movedwith their daughters to her sister’s home in Jiddah.

The press agency report gave no further details, and policecould not be immediately reached for comment.