Seven inmates put to death in Kuwait jail

Kuwait has put seven prisoners to death in a rare mass execution despite international criticism.

The state-run Kuna news agency said the seven were all facing premeditated murder and other charges in the sheikhdom.

It identified them as three Kuwaiti men, one Kuwaiti woman, a Syrian man, a Pakistani man and an Ethiopian woman.

Kuwait said the executions took place at its central prison.

It did not identify the method used. The sheikhdom typically hangs its condemned prisoners, but sometimes uses firing squads.

Kuwait had not held an execution since 2017, when it carried out another mass execution of seven prisoners, including a member of the ruling family.

The EU immediately criticised the executions, which it said coincided with a visit by European Commission official Margaritis Schinas.