Armed man arrested at Makkah's Grand Mosque

Man with knife chanted support for terrorist organisations and was immediately caught by security

People pray at the Grand Mosque during Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, in 2019. Authorities arrested a man with a knife at the Mosque on Tuesday. Reuters

A man with a knife was arrested at the Grand Mosque in Makkah for chanting slogans supporting terrorist groups after asr prayers on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A spokesman for Makkah police said the mosque's security officials “arrested the man immediately and legal procedures have been taken against him”.

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 said the man “did not respect the sanctity of the place. God has made the Grand Mosque a place of worship, including prayer, tawaf and Hajj".

No injuries were reported.