In a horrific domestic violence case that has drawn public outrage, a Saudi man killed his three daughters and stabbed his wife on Sunday morning.
Khaleej Times reported that the 33-year-old man stabbed his three daughters, aged six, four, and two years old, while they were asleep in their home in Mecca's Al-Malawi district.
He went on to stab his wife, believed to be of African descent, before being arrested. The former was released from King Faisal Hospital on Sunday afternoon.
According to media reports, the perpetrator was in a state of hysteria and under the influence of narcotics.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the perpetrator, who is known to be mentally unstable, committed the crime due to a "domestic altercation." His wife had woken up to her daughters' screams but failed to stop him.
Authorities are yet to disclose further information.
The incident has caused quite the stir in the Saudi community, with people taking to social media to express their shock under the hashtag مواطن_يقتل_اطفاله_بمكه# (Citizen_Kills_His_Children_In_Mecca):
People are understandably speechless
"Heartless" is an understatement
"I can't imagine laying a hand on my daughter, let alone killing her"
It's all about spotting warning signs before it's too late
"If you search for any similar murder case, you will find that there are stages of abuse preceding murder. He (the perpetrator) did not dare kill until he found that his previous acts were met with silence."
"Some people wish for children, while others kill their own"
"I wish he had given them (his daughters) to me instead of killing them. Some people wish for children, while others kill their own. Pray for me to have children."
"Where did our emotions disappear to?"
"I've started hating Twitter because of these [types of] news that are affecting my mental state. How can a son kill his mother or a father kill his daughters? Where did our emotions disappear to? God protect us."
Saudis are calling upon authorities to intervene in domestic disputes
"Authorities' refusal to intervene in domestic issues, under the pretext that they are family matters, might lead to crimes. When authorities overlook details they deem as trivial, serious consequences occur. Government authorities are supposed to have the right to directly intervene in every dispute before it turns into a crime."
And to test for drug use before marriage
"Testing couples for drugs, like they are tested for hereditary diseases before a marriage could prevent such acts."
Because one's wife and kids should not be treated as a punching bag
"One should undergo a drug test and psychological analysis before getting married so that his kids or wife do not become victims. The wife and kids were not created to become rehabilitation centers for drug addicts or tranquilizers for those suffering from mental illnesses."
It's high time people think twice before reproducing
"For the millionth time, if you are not up for the responsibilities of marriage and reproduction, don't reproduce, you ignorant, because your children will become victims and pay the price of the miserable life you offered them."