Armed man, shouting slogans in support of terror outfits, arrested from Makkah's Grand Mosque

Published April 2, 2021
An armed man shouting slogans in support of terrorist outfits was arrested from Makkah's Grand Mosque on March 30 by the Grand Mosque Security Force. — Saudi Press Agency via Reuters
An armed man shouting slogans in support of terrorist outfits was arrested from Makkah's Grand Mosque on March 30 by the Grand Mosque Security Force. — Saudi Press Agency via Reuters

An armed man shouting slogans in support of terrorist outfits was arrested from Makkah's Grand Mosque on March 30 by the Grand Mosque Security Force, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

A spokesperson for the Makkah police told the SPA that the man had been spotted at the mosque's first floor, brandishing a knife and sloganeering after Asr (afternoon) prayer and was immediately arrested by law enforcers present on site. The spokesperson added that legal proceedings had been initiated against the suspect.

Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques, told The National that the use of racist and extremist expressions was against Islamic doctrines.

The man “did not respect the sanctity of the place. God has made the Grand Mosque a place of worship, including prayer, tawaf (circumambulation) and Hajj", said Sheikh Sudais while speaking to The National.

In October 2020, a Saudi man had crashed his speeding car into the outer gates of the Grand Mosque. Guards had chased the driver as he crashed through two barriers before hitting one of the southern entrances of the mosque and was said to be in an “abnormal condition” by Makkah authorities.

Saudi authorities had also foiled an attempted attack on the Grand Mosque in June 2017. The interior ministry had launched a raid around Jeddah, as well as two areas in Makkah itself, including the Ajyad Al-Masafi neighbourhood, located near the Grand Mosque where police had engaged in a shootout at a three-storey house with a suicide bomber, who blew himself up and caused the building to collapse.

The bomber was killed, while the blast had wounded six foreigners and five members of security forces, according to a ministry statement. Five others were arrested, including a woman, it had added.

Opinion

Editorial

A steep price
Updated 29 May, 2023

A steep price

The situation has come to a point where any step taken to stabilise the economy actually exacerbates the crisis.
Colonial reminders
29 May, 2023

Colonial reminders

ON the face of it, the UK’s Conservative cabinet is amongst its most diverse ever, with persons of colour in top...
Killing spree
29 May, 2023

Killing spree

IT’s a symptom of a society’s morbid soul when the living are tortured and murdered with impunity. On Friday,...
On desertions
Updated 28 May, 2023

On desertions

Clearly, the temptation to relapse into old habits was too difficult to resist.
Unethical disclosure
28 May, 2023

Unethical disclosure

IN its glee over the travails of its nemesis, the PTI, at the hands of the establishment, the government has sunk to...
India’s bloodlust
28 May, 2023

India’s bloodlust

THE Indian establishment seems determined to send veteran Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik to the gallows. The Jammu...