Celebratory gunfire turns wedding into a funeral

A groom on the way to his wedding reception was killed when a stray bullet fired from his friend’s pistol struck his heart.                

Police received a call reporting that the groom had been shot while heading to a hall to receive well wishers.                      

The killing reportedly took place when a bullet was fired from a gun held by his friend, who was sitting behind him. The friend told police that he was getting ready to celebrate his friend’s arrival at the hall, when a bullet fired accidentally.                          

The man who turned himself in after the incident "fired a bullet by mistake when he was charging his gun," Al-Qabas daily said, adding that the bullet hit the groom and killed him.                       

He told police that it was all a mistake and that he was shocked by the bullet coming out and penetrating the back of his friend, turning the wedding into a funeral.                          

The incident took place in the village of Salibiya, in the tribal Jahra province, highlighting the problem of the availability of personal weapons among tribesmen in the oil-rich Gulf emirate.                     

Celebratory gunfire is common among the tribes although the use of personal weapons is banned.                      

Investigations are underway.