ALBAWABA - One Qatari citizen was murdered and another Arab resident injured when their boat was hit by shrapnel from continuing military actions in the region, the Ministry of Interior of Qatar said on Sunday.
The ministry said the event was uncovered after authorities detected that a small vessel with two individuals on board had not returned at the designated time during routine maritime monitoring by the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security.
Maritime patrols initiated an immediate search effort on Saturday evening and the vessel was found by rescue teams in the early hours of Sunday. The Qatari national died from injuries inflicted by shrapnel while the second occupant, an Arab resident, survived and was taken to hospital, officials said.
The injured individual is receiving care from medical personnel and is in stable condition, the ministry stated.
Authorities could not identify the military actions that caused the shrapnel, nor the spot on the vessel that was hit. An inquiry into the situation is underway.
The episode points to the mounting dangers of ongoing military operations across the region, especially for civilians operating distant from the front lines.
