KUWAIT CITY // A Kuwaiti employed by the ministry of interior has been arrested in connection with a Ramadan shooting that left at least three Indian men dead, a security source said yesterday.
The arrested man, who is not a police officer, told investigating officers that he killed two of the men on Monday evening because "they were eating during Ramadan", the source said.
The so-far unidentified man has a history of mental illness, the source said, adding: "I think he's mad, or something."
A janitor and a tea boy, the first two victims, were killed at a farm in an area south-west of Kuwait City. The farm is reportedly owned by the arrested man's family. Media reported that the man was caught with a shotgun.
Another Indian was murdered at the house of the detainee's father, reportedly in the Saad Al Abdullah area west of Kuwait City, the security source said. An Ethiopian maid narrowly escaped the same fate when she fled from the gunman in the house.
The local online news agency, Alaan, reported that the body of a fourth man, an Asian shepherd, was discovered yesterday.
There have been no official statements about the shootings and it is not clear if the victims were Muslims or non-Muslims. The arrested man was on sick leave from the ministry for reasons related to his mental health, the Arab Times stated. He had recently been in a psychiatric hospital for two weeks.
jcalderwood@thenational.ae
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.
Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.
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