Four British travellers killed in Saudi Arabia coach crash
Four Britons, including a mother of six, have been killed in a coach crash during a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
A further 12 Britons, including a young child, were hurt in the accident, which happened around 30 miles north of the holy city.
One of the dead was 70-year-old Raj Begum Hussain, from Blackburn, who had six children and 13 grandchildren, said the BBC. She died alongside another elderly woman and her adult son, from Preston, and an elderly man, also from Preston, said the BBC.
The Foreign Office said it is supporting the British families of the dead and injured.
They were among 18 people onboard the coach, which was travelling from Mecca to Medina as part of an Umra pilgrimage.
Blackburn-based tour operator Hashim Travel said the coach was hit by a fuel tanker, which burst into flames, setting the coach on fire.
Other passengers on the coach were from Accrington, Preston, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Blackburn.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the British families of those who have died and those injured following a serious road traffic accident near the town of Al Khalas, Saudi Arabia."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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