A video of how a speeding car rammed into the outa gates of Makkah’s Grand Mosque on Friday night has surfaced.
The state-run news agency reports that the crash happened around 10:30 p.m as the yet to be identified driver rammed into a barrier and kept driving until it hit the gate of the Grand Mosque’s southern side.
Authorities arrested the man inside, who appeared in an “abnormal” condition, the agency said, without elaborating.
Video on social media corresponded to the news agency’s account, with security forces later pushing the damaged sedan away.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTpKi8lKoAo
The Grand Mosque houses the cube-shaped Kaaba that observant Muslims pray toward five times a day.
Authorities had shut down the mosque amid the coronavirus pandemic, but recently reopened it to small crowds of faithful.
Footage broadcast on the state-run Quran TV satellite channel showed people inside circling the Kaaba before and after the crash.
Investigators said the driver of the car was a Saudi citizen who was “in an abnormal condition.”
The offender is being referred to the Public Prosecution office, it said.
