Saudi Man Rams Car At Outer Wall Of Mecca's Grand Mosque, Arrested
A Saudi
man rammed a car at high speed into the outer walls of Mecca's Grand Mosque,
Islam's holiest site, authorities said on Saturday.
Guards
chased the driver as he crashed through two barriers before hitting one of the
southern entrances of the mosque late Friday, according to officials in the
holy city and videos on social media.
Mecca
authorities did not name the man but said he appeared to be in an
"abnormal condition". He was referred to the public prosecutor to
face possible charges, they added.
Earlier in
October, Saudi Arabia opened the Grand Mosque for prayers for the first time in
seven months, and expanded the umrah pilgrimage to accommodate 15,000
worshippers from within the kingdom as it relaxed coronavirus curbs.
Umrah -- a
Muslim pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time -- had been suspended in
March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The limit
on umrah will be raised to 20,000 from Sunday, when authorities will allow
pilgrims from abroad.
Saudi
Arabia hosted the annual hajj pilgrimage in late July, on the smallest scale in
modern history.
Only up to
10,000 Muslim residents of the country were allowed to take part, a far cry
from the 2.5 million who participated last year.
