Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Gulfaraz Zaman, director of Hashim Travel, called the incident 'disturbing'

Four British people have died and 12 others have been hurt in a coach crash in Saudi Arabia, a travel firm says.

Raj Begum Hussain, 70, from Blackburn, died alongside an elderly man and a mother and her grown-up son, all from Preston, in Lancashire.

The coach was travelling from Mecca on an Umrah pilgrimage, when it was hit by a fuel tanker which caught fire and set the bus alight, the firm said.

Trip organisers Hashim Travel said the incident on Saturday was "horrendous".

Eighteen people were aboard the coach when it crashed. All were taken to hospital, where six remain.

Mrs Hussain - a mother of six and a grandmother of 13 - was travelling with her younger sister who survived but was injured.

"She will be sorely missed by all family and friends. We would like to thank the whole community for their condolences and support at this difficult time," her family said in a statement.

It is understood that a young child was also among the injured.

The group were travelling as part of an Umrah pilgrimage and had been in Saudi Arabia for a week.

The crash happened near the start of the group's five-hour road trip from Mecca to Medina, near the town of Al Khalas.

The Umrah pilgrimage is on a smaller scale than the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Blackburn-based Hashim Travel says it specialises in Umrah and Hajj and has been providing travel packages to people in north-west England for 20 years.

The company's director, Gulfaraz Zaman, called the incident "horrendous" and "very distressing".

"If you see the remains of the bus, there's just the metal frame of it that's left," he told the BBC.

"It's very upsetting - especially the people that have passed away," he added, "our thoughts are with the families."

He said visas had been arranged for family members of the deceased who were now travelling out to Saudi Arabia.

The Council of British Hajjis said it was providing support to a British family which had been affected.

Rashid Mogradia, chief executive of Council of British Hajjis, told the BBC the route between Mecca and Medina was a long but "relatively safe journey".

A lot has been done by the Saudi authorities to improve the safety of pilgrims, he told the BBC.

Passengers on the bus were from Accrington, Preston, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Blackburn.

Abdul Hamid Qureshi, chairman of Lancashire Council of Mosques said: "This is a very sad incident. Our prayers and thoughts are with the deceased and their families."

Conservative MP for Wyre and Preston North Ben Wallace tweeted his condolences and Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, who is chair of the recently formed All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hajj and Umrah, said: "I am really saddened to hear of the death of pilgrims."

"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," a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

What is the Umrah?

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The British nationals were travelling to the holy city of Medina on an Umrah pilgrimage

The Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place in the month of Dhul Hijjah, which is the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The Umrah is an extra, optional pilgrimage and does not count as the once-in-a-lifetime Hajj.

Although it includes some of the rituals of the Hajj, they are shortened and there are fewer of them.

Unlike Hajj, it is not obligatory and can take place at any time of the year.</s>Four Britons have tragically died and 12 others injured in a coach crash while on an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

A woman in her 60s from Blackburn, Lancashire, and a man and a mother and a son from Preston, were travelling from Mecca to Medina on an 'Umrah' pilgrimage.

The Umrah is a Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia undertaken at any time of the year, compared to the 'Hajj' which must be done on dates of the Islamic calendar.

Tour operators Hashim Travel said the coach the four Britons were on was hit by a fuel tanker which then caught fire and set the bus alight on Saturday.

The Foreign Office says it is aware British Nationals have been killed in an accident in Saudi Arabia.

The travel firm said relatives of those who have died - who it said were a man, a woman and a mother and son - have been informed.

It is understood that a young child is among the injured.

The coach was travelling from Mecca to Medina as part of an Umra pilgrimage when the collision happened near the town of Al Khalas.

The Umrah pilgrimage is optional for Muslims and on a smaller scale than the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which Muslims are obliged to undertake.

The group reportedly flew out as part of a pilgrimage package on April 15 and were due back on April 29.

Hashim Travel, based in Blackburn, specialises in Umrah and Hajj and has been providing travel packages for the past 15 years.

Gulfaraz Zaman, the director of the company, said there were 18 people in total on board.

He said: "There was a crash between the coach and a petrol tanker.

"There were 18 people on the coach which was travelling back from Mecca towards Medina.

"It took place on a main road. Four people have passed away, one from Blackburn and three from Preston.

"The woman from Blackburn was aged in her 60s."

Other passengers on the hired bus were from Accrington, Preston, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Blackburn.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman 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.”

Al Khalas is a settlement roughly 30 miles north of the holy site of Mecca.</s>Four British pilgrims were killed and 12 others injured in Saudi Arabia when their bus collided with a fuel tanker, officials said here. The crash occurred on Saturday near the western Saudi town of Al Khalas while the pilgrims were on their way to the holy city of Mecca. “The royal embassy of Saudi Arabia in London is working with (Britain’s) Foreign Office to issue emergency visas immediately to both the relatives of the four pilgrims who died as well as to families of the 12 British pilgrims who were injured,” the embassy said in a statement yesterday. “The injured have been taken to a hospital in Mecca where everything possible is being done to care for them.” The Saudi ambassador to Britain Mohammed bin Nawaf also tweeted his “sincere sympathies”. The embassy’s statement said 17 British pilgrims were aboard the bus.

The fatalities included a 70-year-old grandmother from Blackburn, in northern England, and an elderly man, a mother and her grown-up son, all from the neighbouring city of Preston, according to media reports in Britain. Ben Wallace, a lawmaker for the area in the UK parliament, wrote on Twitter: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of those that are reported to have been invlolved in an accident in Saudi Arabia.” A local company, Hashim Travel, reportedly organised the tour. Gulfaraz Zaman, its director, told the BBC the accident was “horrendous”. “If you see the remains of the bus, there’s just the metal frame of it that’s left,” he said.

In a brief statement, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: “We are supporting the British families of those who have died and those injured following a serious road traffic accident”. A spokesperson for CBHUK (The Council of British Hajjis), a national pilgrim welfare charity, said the British Consulate in Jeddah was providing on-the-ground consular support.

Every year, millions of Muslims flock to Mecca and Medina further south, Islam’s second holiest site, to carry out the annual hajj pilgrimage or the umra. In January 2017, a two-month old baby was among six British nationals killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia while they were travelling to Medina, according to British officials. In 2015, around 2,300 worshippers performing hajj were crushed to death in a stampede, in the worst disaster ever to strike the annual pilgrimage.</s>Britons are believed to be among the dead after a tragic crash in Saudi Arabia.

The nationals from the UK were reportedly heading to Mecca on pilgrimage.

According to the Foreign Office, Brits are among those killed.

Four people reportedly died in the crash.

The Mirror is reporting a number of others are injured.

It is believed that they were travelling by coach.

The Brits are reportedly from the North West area of England.

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."

A man, a woman from Blackburn in her 60s and a mother and son are believed to be the dead.

Hashim Travel director Gulfaraz Zaman told the Lancashire Telegraph there had been a total of 18 people on the bus.

He said: "There was a crash between the coach and a petrol tanker.

"There were 18 people on the coach which was travelling back from Mecca towards Medina.

"It took place on a main road.

"Four people have passed away, one from Blackburn and three from Preston.

"The woman from Blackburn was aged in her 60s."

As well as the major pilgrimage of the Hajj, there is also the so-called lesser pilgrimage called the Umrah, a trip to Mecca that can be done at any time of year.

However, the Umrah is not a substitute for the compulsory Hajj.

Muslims must enter a sacred state of cleanliness known as ihram in order to undertake either the Hajj or the Umrah.

Worshippers put on special robes of white seamless cloth at one of six points on the pilgrimage, depending which direction they approach Mecca from.

These points are known as miqats.

Among them, the city of Yalamlam is the miqat for those coming from Yemen, while Juhfah is the miqat for those from Syria, Qarn ul-Manazil for those from Saudi Arabia, and Dhat Irq for those coming from Iraq and Iran.</s>Four British pilgrims were killed and 12 others injured in Saudi Arabia when their bus collided with a fuel tanker, officials said on Sunday.

The crash occurred on Saturday near the western Saudi town of Al Khalas while the pilgrims were on their way to the holy city of Mecca.

"The royal embassy of Saudi Arabia in London is working with (Britain's) Foreign Office to issue emergency visas immediately to both the relatives of the four pilgrims who died as well as to families of the 12 British pilgrims who were injured," the embassy said in a statement.

"The injured have been taken to a hospital in Mecca where everything possible is being done to care for them."

The statement said 17 British pilgrims were aboard the bus.

"My sincere sympathies and thoughts are with the families of the four British pilgrims who tragically died in a coach crash in the kingdom on Saturday and for the pilgrims who were injured," Saudi ambassador to Britain, Mohammed bin Nawaf, tweeted.

"Our prayers are with these families at this tragic time."

In a brief statement, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office said: "We are supporting the British families of those who have died and those injured following a serious road traffic accident".

Every year, millions of Muslims flock to Mecca and Medina further south, Islam's second holiest site, to carry out the annual hajj pilgrimage or the umra.

In January 2017, a two-month old baby was among six British nationals killed in a road accident in Saudi Arabia while they were travelling to Medina, according to British officials.

In 2015, around 2,300 worshippers performing hajj were crushed to death in a stampede, in the worst disaster ever to strike the annual pilgrimage.</s>Four British people have died and 12 others have been injured after a coach crashed on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Blackburn-based travel company Hashim Travel confirmed one of its buses was hit by a fuel tanker on the way from Mecca to Medina and burst into flames on Saturday afternoon.

The four victims were from Blackburn and Preston and taking part in the Umra pilgrimage.

The vehicle was hit near the town of Al Khalas in Makkah Province, western Saudi Arabia at around 1pm local time.

Gulfaraz Zaman, director of Hashim Travel told MailOnline there were 16 members of their group on the bus accompanied by two Saudi nationals.

Among the dead are two elderly women aged between 65 and 70, a young man in his late 20s and an elderly man aged between 70 and 75. One of the women and the young man were mother and son.

They flew out as part of a pilgrimage package on April 15 and were due back on April 29.

Families of the deceased have had visas arranged and are due to fly to Saudi Arabia this evening.

Among the injured are people from Accrington, Preston, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Blackburn.

Mr Zaman added that 'only five or six' of those injured are still in hospital, the rest have been discharged. One of them is a young child.

He said: 'There was a crash between the coach and a petrol tanker.

'There were 18 people on the coach which was travelling back from Mecca towards Medina.

'It took place on a main road. Four people have passed away, one from Blackburn and three from Preston. The woman from Blackburn was aged in her 60s.'

Hashim Travel specialises in Umra and Hajj and has been providing travel packages for the past 15 years.

The Umra pilgrimage is similar to the annual Hajj one, which many Muslims undertake in August, but is smaller and remains optional.

Umra can be carried out at any time of the year, while Hajj must be done on dates of the Islamic calendar.

The Foreign Office says it is aware British Nationals have been killed in the accident in Saudi Arabia.

A spokesman 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.'</s>A number of Britons have died in a serious road crash in Saudi Arabia.

In total, four British people - including a woman from Blackburn - have died and 12 others have been hurt after the bus they were travelling on crashed on an pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina.

Blackburn-based Hashim Travel said the coach they were on was hit by a fuel tanker which then caught fire and set the bus alight.

The Foreign Office says it is aware British Nationals have been killed in an accident in Saudi Arabia.

The travel firm said relatives of those who have died - who it said were a man, a woman and a mother and son - have been informed.

It is understood that a young child is among the injured. The coach was travelling from Mecca to Medina as part of an Umra pilgrimage when the collision happened on Saturday near the town of Al Khalas.

The Umra pilgrimage is optional for Muslims and on a smaller scale than the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which Muslims are obliged to undertake.

Hashim Travel, based in Blackburn, says it specialises in Umra and Hajj and has been providing travel packages for the past 15 years.

Passengers on the bus were from Accrington, Preston, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Blackburn.

"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," a Foreign Office spokesperson said.</s>Four British people have died in a serious coach crash in Saudi Arabia after colliding with a petrol tanker.

The victims were among 18 people on board the coach which was travelling from Mecca to Medina on Saturday as part of an Umra pilgrimage.

A woman aged in her 60s from Blackburn, Lancashire, an elderly woman and her adult son, from Preston, Lancashire, and an elderly man, also from Preston, died in the crash near the town of Al Khalas, said Blackburn-based travel firm Hashim Travel.

The travel firm’s director Gulfaraz Zaman said: “The coach driver said they were travelling in the opposite direction to the petrol tanker when a car overtook the tanker and he had to move in to the side of the road a little to let it through but then the petrol tanker hit the coach which caught fire.”

A Foreign Office (FCO) spokesman 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.”

Al Khalas is a settlement roughly 30 miles north of the holy site of Mecca.

Hashim Travel says it has been operating specialist Hajj and Umra tour packages for more than 15 years.

The Umra pilgrimage, which can be undertaken any time of the year, is a smaller version of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which sees millions of Muslims travel to Mecca.</s>An Accrington man is said to have been injured in a fiery coach crash in Saudi Arabia which left four Britons, including an OAP from East Lancashire, dead.

Mother-of-six Raj Begum Hussain, 70, from Blackburn, is understood to have died along with an elderly woman and her adult son, from Preston and an elderly man, also from Preston.

Another 12 British citizens were injured in the tragedy around 30 miles north of Mecca on Saturday.

The group were travelling in a coach when it collided with a petrol tanker near the town of Al Khalas, said Blackburn-based travel operator Hashim Travel.

The driver of the tanker is also said to have died, while other coach passengers were treated for fractures.

The travel firm’s director, Gulfaraz Zaman, said: “The coach driver said they were travelling in the opposite direction to the petrol tanker when a car overtook the tanker and he had to move in to the side of the road a little to let it through but then the petrol tanker hit the coach which caught fire.”

Mr Zaman told the Observer: “It’s very tragic and very sad, especially for the families that have lost their lives.

“We have been doing this for the past 20 years and it’s the first incident. We found out about 11am UK time on Saturday morning. We received information that there had been a crash involving the coach our pilgrims were travelling in.

“There was a petrol tanker that crashed into it and it caused both the coach and petrol tanker to catch fire. There were four people who lost their lives.

“There were others who had injuries like broken legs, broken noses, head injuries. The man from Accrington was injured as well.”

Mr Zaman added: “There are still five or six still in hospital and the rest have been discharged and taken back to the hotel.

“My father flew out yesterday to go and assist them.

“The coach was so badly damaged that there was only the metal frame of it left.

“Their passports and everything had been burnt in the fire so those travel documents will have to be replaced.

“We are in contact with the British Consulate and the High Commissioner.”

The BBC said Mrs Hussain was travelling with her younger sister who survived but was injured, while a young child was also said to have been hurt.

Her family told the broadcaster: “She will be sorely missed by all family and friends. We would like to thank the whole community for their condolences and support at this difficult time.”

The victims were among 18 people on board the coach which was travelling from Mecca to Medina as part of an Umra pilgrimage.

Family members of are planning to fly out to Saudi Arabia within the next 24 hours.

The Foreign Office (FCO) spokesman said it supporting the British families of the dead and injured.

Meanwhile the Saudi Ambassador to the UK, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, has instructed his consular team to issue them with emergency visas.

He tweeted: “My sincere sympathies and thoughts are with the families of the four British pilgrims who tragically died in a coach crash in the Kingdom on Saturday and for the pilgrims who were injured.”

Al Khalas is a settlement roughly 30 miles north of the holy site of Mecca.

Hashim Travel said it has been operating specialist Hajj and Umra tour packages for more than 15 years.

The Umra pilgrimage, which can be undertaken any time of the year, is a smaller version of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which sees millions of Muslims travel to Mecca.

A spokesman for the Council of British Hajjis said: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have been affected by this tragic accident whilst on the Umrah pilgrimage to the holy lands. We have been in touch with the British Consulate in Jeddah who are providing on the ground consular support.”

Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi, chairwoman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hajj and Umrah, said: “I am really saddened to hear of the death of pilgrims. My prayers and thoughts for them and their family at this difficult time.”</s>Have your say

At least four Britons have died in a serious road crash in Saudi Arabia.

Details are still emerging following yesterday’s coach crash.

Those killed are believed to have been from Blackburn and Preston, in Lancashire, travelling from Mecca on an Umra pilgrimage.

Blackburn-based Hashim Travel said the coach they were on was hit by a fuel tanker.

The tanker subsequently caught fire and set the bus alight.

The travel firm said relatives of those who have died have been informed.

Reports have said a man, a woman and a mother and son are among those dead.

Another 12 British nationals, including a young child, are understood to be among those injured.

A Foreign Office (FCO) spokesman confirmed there were UK fatalities among the victims.

The spokesman 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.”

Al Khalas is a settlement roughly 30 miles north of the holy site of Mecca.

The coach was travelling from Mecca to Medina as part of an Umra pilgrimage when the collision happened.

The Umra pilgrimage is optional for Muslims and on a smaller scale than the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which Muslims are obliged to undertake.
A coach carrying British Muslim pilgrims on an Umra trip from Mecca to Medina crashes near Al Khalas, Saudi Arabia. Four are killed and twelve more injured.