Saudi Arabia has denied reports of a suspected suicide bombing attempt at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, describing claims circulating on social media as false. The kingdom's General Directorate of Public Security said a man involved in the incident was arrested for harassing passersby and causing fear and panic among pilgrims. Authorities said the incident was dealt with immediately and denied that it involved an attempted bombing.

The clarification came after a video circulated widely on social media showing security personnel at the Grand Mosque attempting to restrain a man who appeared to be carrying a black bag. The footage prompted reports claiming that the individual was a suspected suicide bomber who had attempted to detonate an explosive vest near the Kaaba. Saudi security authorities, however, said there was no truth to those claims.

In a statement posted on X, Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Public Security said security authorities in the holy capital had arrested a person for harassing people and spreading fear and panic among them. The authorities also said the man was dealt with immediately. Saudi security agencies have launched an investigation into the incident, while officials reiterated that the reports describing it as a suicide bombing attempt were untrue.

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Some media reports, including one by RT, had described the individual in the circulating footage as a suicide bomber and claimed that an explosive device had failed to detonate. The Kaaba, located at the centre of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, is Islam's holiest site and serves as the direction of prayer for Muslims around the world. The Grand Mosque attracts millions of pilgrims, making security and crowd management a major priority for Saudi authorities.

The incident comes against the backdrop of wider security concerns in Saudi Arabia and the region. A separate incident involving Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement was reported in Medina, where the Saudi-led coalition said a drone struck the Taibah electricity distribution station. The station supplies electricity to the Prophet's Mosque. The Houthis denied involvement in that incident.

Medina, which is home to the Prophet's Mosque and is the burial place of Prophet Mohammed, is among Islam's holiest cities alongside Mecca. The reported drone incident occurred as fighting continued in Yemen, with government forces reporting attacks on Houthi targets. The two incidents are separate, and Saudi authorities' clarification indicates that the claims surrounding the Grand Mosque footage should not be treated as a confirmed suicide bombing attempt.

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