Saudi authorities have dismissed reports circulating on social media that a suicide bomber was apprehended at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, describing the incident as the arrest of a man accused of harassing passersby and triggering panic.
The Saudi General Directorate of Public Security, in a statement posted on X on Friday, October 2, said security personnel in the Holy Capital apprehended the individual following his conduct towards people in the area.
According to the authorities, the man was dealt with immediately and subsequently subjected to legal procedures before being handed over to the Public Prosecution.
The security agency also rejected claims linking the incident to a suspected suicide bombing, urging members of the public to rely on official channels for accurate information.
The clarification followed the circulation of videos on social media purporting to show security personnel arresting a suspected bomber near the Kaaba.
Posts accompanying the footage claimed that a man wearing an explosive vest had approached the Kaaba with an intention to detonate the device.
However, checks showed that the video was not from a recent incident.
The footage dates back to February 2017 and had previously been published in reports concerning an incident near the Kaaba.
A report by Arab News at the time said Saudi security personnel had intercepted a man who had poured petrol on his clothes and attempted to set himself on fire near the Kaaba.
The man was arrested before he could carry out the act.
The old footage was subsequently recirculated online and falsely presented as evidence of a recent security incident at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Saudi authorities have therefore urged the public to verify sensitive reports through official sources rather than relying on unverified social media posts.
Post A Comment: