Qatari official says apparent gas explosion kills 4 people near popular shopping mall in Doha

DOHA, Qatar – A Qatari official says an apparent gas explosion has killed at least four people near a shopping mall in the capital of Doha.

Civil defense director of operations Gen. Hamid al-Naimi told state-backed Qatar TV that initial reports suggest Thursday's blast was caused by a burst gas cylinder that exploded near the Landmark Mall.

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