Saudi Binladin Group Suspended Over Crane Crash

In a quick reaction after the Grand Mosque crane crash tragedy in Makkah, the Saudi King Salman suspended Binladen Group on Tuesday, September 15, from new contracts, barring its board members and senior executive from travel.
The investigative commission had concluded that the company “was in part responsible” for Friday’s tragedy, which killed at least 107 people and injured almost 400, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported.
The tragic incident came about an hour after it tweeted that Makkah was “witnessing medium to heavy rains,” with some pictures circulating on social media showing lightning.
Photos sent by Twitter from the scene show numerous blood-covered bodies strewn on a marble floor under the arm of a large crane.
The company had not “respected the norms of safety” at the site, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
In the first reaction after investigation report, King Salman suspended the huge group from new contracts or entering new bids.
Moreover, he ordered the finance ministry to review its existing projects, the royal court said on Monday.
The suspension would remain in force until the investigation is complete and until all legal cases are settled.
Binladen Group, one of the biggest construction firms in Saudi Arabia, handles major projects in the kingdom including the $7.2 billion expansion of King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah and much of the Grand Mosque.
The group was established in 1931, five years after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded.
The company had been carrying expansion work at the Grand Mosque for long decades.
The accident occurred as the kingdom prepared to welcome 3 million people to the Muslim holy city for the annual pilgrimage that begins September 21.

Source: OnIslam