Blast hits Qatari capital of Doha, killing 9

DOHA, Qatar - An apparent gas explosion Thursday at a restaurant near a filling station in the Qatari capital killed nine people and wounded dozens of others, according to emergency services officials in the energy-rich Gulf nation.

Initial reports suggest a burst gas cylinder was to blame for the blast, which happened shortly after 10 a.m. near the Landmark Mall in the capital, Doha, civil defense director of operations Gen. Hamid al-Naimi told state-backed Qatar TV.

The Ministry of Interior, which is responsible for police and emergency operations, said on its official Twitter feed that the blast happened at the Istanbul Restaurant, which is adjacent to a gas station near the mall. All roads leading to the scene have been shut down, it said.

Nine people were killed and 32 others were wounded, the official Qatar News Agency reported, citing ambulance services. Of the injured, three were said to be in critical condition.

Hamad Medical Corp., which manages eight hospitals and the national ambulance service, put out a call for blood donations on social media shortly after the blast happened, saying it is in need of all types of blood.

Qatar TV aired pictures of damaged cars and smoke rising from near a gas station close to the shopping center. Injured bystanders were seen being wheeled to ambulances on stretchers while police officers examined the scene.

Qatar is a small, wealthy Gulf Arab state with abundant reserves of natural gas that will play host to the 2022 World Cup.

The OPEC member state is generally safe, with little violent crime or civil unrest.