Car rams into gate of Mecca's Grand Mosque, driver arrested
31 October, 2020, 12:50 pm
Last modified: 31 October, 2020, 02:56 pm
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No civilians were injured in the crash
A small group of worshippers pray at Kaaba in the Grand Mosque while practicing social distancing, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, during the holy month of Ramadan, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia May 4, 2020. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via Reuters
A Saudi man has been arrested for ramming his car into the iconic Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca late on Friday.
Though the entrance to the shrine was damaged, no civilians were injured in the crash, reports Middle East Eye citing the Saudi newspaper Okaz.
A driver rammed his car into Door 89 of the Grand Mosque in Mecca (Masjid al-Haram) at 22:25pm Saudi time.
The driver was arrested and based on video footage posted on social media, local media reports, there were no casualties. pic.twitter.com/CzNKWq5OO5— Faisal | فيصل (@faisaledroos) October 30, 2020
Videos posted on social media showed the car plowing through plastic barricades in the outer courtyard of the mosque before driving straight into one of the large outer doors.
The Grand Mosque resumed congregational prayers earlier this month after a seven-month hiatus amid the novel coronavirus outbreak.
On Sunday, the kingdom will allow some foreigners to perform Umrah, a pilgrimage to the cities of Mecca and Medina that can be done at any time of the year.
Umrah has historically attracted millions of pilgrims from around the world, but because of Covid-19, Saudi authorities have said they would gradually phase in the number of pilgrims allowed into the two holy cities.
Saudi / Mecca / Grand Mosque / car accident