Security officials arrested a knife-wielding man for shouting slogans in support of terrorist organizations from the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.
According to a statement by the Saudi Press Agency, the Grand Mosque Security Force (GMSF) held the suspect from the first floor of the Holy Mosque shortly after the Asr prayer on 30 March. ------------------------------
GMSF immediately handed over the accused to the Saudi Police who launched criminal proceedings against him, the statement added.
While speaking with the media, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, head of the Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques, said the “use of racist extremist expressions is outside the doctrine of Islam.”
Sheikh Abdul Rahman added that the man “did not respect the sanctity of the Holy Kaaba. God has made the Grand Mosque a place of worship, including prayer, tawaf, and Hajj”.
Last year in October, a Saudi man was taken into custody after he crashed his speeding car into the outer gates of the Holy Kaaba.
GMSF chased the driver as he crashed through two barriers before hitting one of the southern entrances of the Holy Mosque and was declared to be in an “abnormal condition.” ------------------------------
In June 2017, Saudi authorities foiled an attempted suicide bomb attack on the Holy Kaaba.
After receiving a tip-off, authorities raided a three-story house in the Ajyad Al-Masafi neighborhood located near the Grand Mosque. A brief shootout ensued afterward which ended after the suicide bomber blew himself up, causing the building to collapse.
The bomber was killed while the blast injured five police officers and six foreigners. Five suspects, including a woman, were also arrested later in connection to the planned suicide bombing.