Umrah Pilgrims Among 17 Killed in Riyadh Airport Missile Strike
Update — October 16, 2026
The Saudi-led coalition reported on October 15 that Yemen’s Houthis had carried out 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh during October. According to the coalition, incidents on October 7, 8, 10 and 11 resulted in 17 deaths and 333 injuries.
The deadliest incident occurred on October 10, when 12 people were killed and 309 injured, including Umrah pilgrims.
The updated figures cover multiple incidents and represent the cumulative toll for October, rather than a revised casualty count for the October 10 strike alone.
A missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10, 2026. Saudi authorities and the Saudi-led coalition attribute the strike to Yemen’s Houthis. Passengers were inside the terminals when it hit, including people travelling to and from the holy sites.
| Date | Nationality | Deaths | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 6–7 | Sudanese | 1 | Resident |
| October 8 | Saudi | 3 | Including a Saudia pilot; two attacks |
| October 10 | Saudi | 4 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | Bangladeshi | 2 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | American | 1 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | Egyptian | 1 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | Jordanian | 1 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | Syrian | 1 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | Palestinian | 1 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | Sudanese | 1 | Main Saturday attack |
| October 10 | Indian | 1 | Died later of injuries from Saturday attack |
| October 11 | Pakistani | 1 | Sunday attack |
| Weekly total | — | 18 | — |
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Hyderabad IT Professional Dies After Riyadh Airport Attack, Leaves Wife and Three Children Behind
Mohammed Yousuf Ali, a 46-year-old IT professional from Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad, who had lived and worked in Riyadh for around a decade, died from injuries sustained in the October 10 attack on King Khalid International Airport.
He was waiting at the airport with his family to travel to Madinah for Umrah when a projectile struck the terminal area, leaving him critically injured.
He later died in hospital on October 11. His wife, Sameera, and their three children were also caught up in the incident. His two sons, Aman, around 18, and Wasi, around 16, suffered serious injuries, with one undergoing knee surgery and the other losing three toes.
His young daughter, Maryam, around 11, reportedly escaped serious injury.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh confirmed the death of an Indian national injured in the attack and said it was in contact with the family to provide assistance, including arrangements for the repatriation of his remains.
Bangladeshi Islamic Scholar Killed in Riyadh Airport Attack Leaves Wife and Three Children Behind
Hafiz Mufti Mohammad Nasrullah Badarpuri, a 35-year-old Islamic scholar and madrasa teacher from Cumilla, Bangladesh, was killed in the reported attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh while travelling to Makkah for Umrah.
He served as an assistant deputy director at Jamia Arabia Darul Uloom Madrasa in Dhaka and was travelling with a group of 45 Bangladeshi pilgrims. His death has left his wife and three young children—Jamil Hasan, 7, Nabila Akter, 5, and Jawad, 2—without their husband and father.
Nasrullah was scheduled to return to Bangladesh on October 24, but he never reached Makkah to complete his pilgrimage.
Read the full report: Bangladeshi Umrah Pilgrim Killed in Riyadh Airport Attack
How Many Were Killed and Injured
According to GACA’s official figures, 12 people died and 309 were injured. The dead include four Saudis and nationals of Bangladesh (2), the United States, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine and Sudan. Some reports later added an Indian man to the list of dead, which would bring the number above the official count of 12.
Umrah Pilgrims and Haramain Visitors Among the Casualties
Gulf News said Umrah pilgrims and visitors to Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) in Makkah and Masjid an-Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Madinah were among the dead and injured. It cited doctors who said pilgrims heading to Makkah were wounded while they waited for their flights.
A group of 45 teachers and students from a Dhaka madrasa was travelling for Umrah. Nine of them were seriously injured and one is missing. They were waiting for boarding passes to Makkah when the missile hit.
An Indian man named in reports as Mohammed Yusuf Ali, also spelled Mohammed Yousuf, was on an Umrah trip with his family. He was killed, and his relatives were injured. Other reports also described pilgrims among the wounded at the terminal.
Where the Missile Hit
The strike hit the passenger terminals. Reports say the area involved gates or terminals used for domestic or connecting flights. The Saudi-led coalition called it a “terrorist attack” and a “war crime” against civilians.
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