Two Thais injured in crane collapse at Mecca

BANGKOK, September 12 (TNA) - Two Thai Muslims -- a man and a woman -- were injured after the massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque, one of Islam’s most revered sites, on Friday, said a Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman. Spokesman Sek Wannamethee said the two injured Thai Muslims were receiving a treatment by medical doctors. Mr Sek quoted a Thai consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as saying that no Thai deaths were reported in the incident which occurred Friday evening. Simultaneously, Arun Boonchom, president of Islamic Committee of Bangkok, said the incident occurred while there were strong winds and rains, causing the crane fell into the Grand Mosque, causing 107 deaths and 248 others injured. Mr Arun confirmed that no Thai Muslims died in the accident. The Grand Mosque is usually at its most crowded on Fridays, the Muslim weekly day of prayer. Many faithful would have been gathered there ahead of evening maghrib prayers, which occurred about an hour after the tragedy. The incident occurred as hundreds of thousands of Muslims from all over the world gather for the annual hajj pilgrimage expected to begin on September 21. (TNA)