Saudi authorities on Friday denied reports that security forces had detained a suspected suicide bomber near the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.
Security authorities said that they arrested a man for harassing passersby and causing fear and panic in the area.
“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 added.
Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Public Security said that security units intervened immediately and legal proceedings had been launched against the man.
The suspect was referred to the prosecutor’s office, authorities said.
The statement did not provide further details about the man or the incident. Authorities also urged the public to rely on official sources, saying that some claims circulating about the incident were untrue.
Earlier, claims circulated on social media that a suspected suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest had approached the Kaʽbah before security personnel detained him.
Some social media accounts also described the person detained near the Masjid al-Haram area as a “suicide bomber” and claimed that he had attempted an attack.
The Saudi statement did not mention any explosives being found on the detained man or indicate that he had attempted an attack.
The Kaʽbah, located at the centre of the Masjid al-Haram, is Islam’s holiest site.
