Saudi police arrested an apparently "mentally disturbed" man who tried to set himself on fire at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, AFP reported Tuesday (February 7th).
The man, a Saudi citizen in his 40s, "poured petrol on himself and tried to set it alight", Grand Mosque police spokesman Major Sameh al-Salami said, adding that "his behaviour gives the impression that he is mentally disturbed".
The incident happened Monday night right next to the Kaaba.
Pilgrims and police escorted the man away before he could light the petrol, footage posted on social media showed.
Witnesses told Saudi media that the man also tried to set fire to the kiswah, the black and gold silk curtain that covers the Kaaba.
One witness told the Sabq news website he had been uttering "takfiri" slogans.
