Saudi Arabia Denies Suicide Bomber Report at Grand Mosque in Makkah

MAKKAH: Saudi authorities on Friday denied reports of a suicide bomber at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, saying a man was arrested for harassing passersby and causing fear and panic.

“Security authorities in the holy capital arrested a person for harassing passersby and spreading fear and panic among them, and he was dealt with immediately,” authorities said in a statement on X.

“The security authorities confirm that there is no truth to the claims being circulated regarding the incident,” the statement said.

The authorities did not provide further details about the arrested man.

الجهات الأمنية في العاصمة المقدسة تقبض على شخص لمضايقته المارة وإثارة الهلع والفزع بينهم، وتم التعامل معه في حينه بشكل فوري. pic.twitter.com/cNNGjLghk8

— الأمن العام (@security_gov) October 1, 2026

Earlier, claims circulating on social media alleged that a suspected suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest had approached the Holy Kaaba before being arrested by security personnel.

The Holy Kaaba is the most sacred site in Islam, where Muslims perform Hajj, Umrah and other religious duties. It was built by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and his son Prophet Ismail (AS).

A decade ago, a deadly suicide bombing near Islam’s second-holiest site in Madina sparked condemnation across the Muslim world. Four people were killed in the bombing near Masjid-i-Nabawi — or the mosque of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) — as Muslims prepared for Eidul Fitr.