A man on Monday tried to set himself alight with gasoline beside the Holy Kaaba inside the Grand Mosque, police in Saudi Arabia said.

However, the man was arrested before he could act on it, the police added. The man was in his 40s, it was confirmed.

"His actions suggest that he is mentally unwell," the mosque's police service said in a statement.

Though it did not elaborate, the police said it would take measures to address the incident.

A video clip circulating on social media shows a man being hustled away from the Kaaba by pilgrims and security guards. Reuters was not able to verify the footage.