Abu Dhabi says 2 killed, 120 injured in gas cylinder blast

By JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Police say a gas cylinder explosion in the capital of the United Arab Emirates has killed two people and injured 120 others. Abu Dhabi police initially acknowledged the mid-day blast Monday, but offered no casualty figures. Hours later, they gave them, offering only a few photos of broken glass in the street. State-owned and state-linked media in Abu Dhabi also downplayed the blast as only damaging the facades of nearby shops. Abu Dhabi police also had warned the public against sharing any footage of the blast’s aftermath in the country with strict laws on speech. A state-linked newspaper in Abu Dhabi described the explosion as striking an unnamed restaurant after 1 p.m. Monday.