Fire at Wedding in Saudi Arabia Kills 25

Celebratory gunfire triggers deadly blaze

A fire sparked by celebratory gunfire has killed at least 25 women and children at a wedding in Saudi Arabia, local reports say.

The bullets struck electric decorations that triggered a short-circuit, igniting a women-only marquee at the wedding on Tuesday night in Eastern Province, said Al-Youm newspaper, citing civil defence chief General Abdullah Khsheiman.

Al-Youm, which is based in the province, said at least 28 people died in the fire, although various other reports put the death toll at 25, all of them women and children.