Saudi Arabia Denies Suicide Bomber Near Kaaba
Saudi Arabia has denied reports regarding the presence of a suicide bomber in the Masjid al-Haram, Mecca. Saudi authorities explained that while a man was indeed arrested in the Mecca area, it was because he was disturbing passers-by and triggering panic.
“Security authorities in the Holy City have arrested an individual for disturbing passers-by and spreading fear and panic among them, and he was dealt with immediately,” stated the Saudi security authorities via the social media platform X, as reported by Anadolu Agency and Turkiye Today on Friday (2/10/2026).
“Security authorities confirm that the circulating claims regarding the incident are untrue,” the statement emphasised.
The statement refutes reports circulating on social media, which claimed that a suspected suicide bomber wearing an explosive vest had approached the Kaaba in the Masjid al-Haram before being secured by officers.
Regarding the arrest in Mecca, the Saudi General Directorate of Public Security emphasised that security units intervened immediately and legal proceedings have commenced. It was noted that the arrested suspect has been handed over to the prosecutor’s office.
However, no detailed information was provided regarding the identity of the suspect arrested in the incident.
Furthermore, the Saudi General Directorate of Public Security urged the public to refer to official sources. It was stressed that several circulating claims regarding the incident do not align with the actual facts.
No Evidence of Explosives Found
Widely circulated claims on social media previously suggested that an individual detained near the Masjid al-Haram area was a “suicide bomber” who had attempted to carry out an attack. Some social media accounts even claimed that the suspected bomber was wearing an explosive vest and had approached the Kaaba.
The official statement released by Saudi authorities contained no information indicating that any explosives were found on the suspect arrested in Mecca, nor did it mention any attempted attack.
These claims regarding a suicide bomber emerged after Saudi authorities accused the Houthi group of attacking the holy city of Medina. The Saudi-led coalition stated that a drone hit the Taibah electricity distribution substation on Tuesday (29/9) morning, at approximately 05:11 local time.
The Saudi-led coalition stated that investigations and examinations of the drone debris “confirmed the involvement of the Houthi terrorist militia in planning and executing this cowardly terrorist act.”
According to the Saudi-led coalition, the substation supplies electricity to the Prophet’s Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites. The attack disabled one transformer at the substation, but did not disrupt the overall power grid.
The Houthis have denied the Saudi allegations. A Houthi military source, quoted by the Saba news agency managed by the group, described the accusations as a “lie.”