Makkah Police Arrest Man for Harassing Passers-by, Saudi Security Denies Rumours
Saudi General Security says a man who harassed passers-by and caused panic in Makkah was arrested and referred to prosecutors, and that viral claims are false.
Saudi Arabia's General Security says police in Makkah arrested a man for harassing passers-by and causing panic and alarm among them on 2 October 2026. He was dealt with immediately and has been referred to the Public Prosecution. The authority also said the claims being shared online about the incident are not true.
The statement was posted on 2 October 2026 by General Security, Saudi Arabia's national police authority, on its official X account, @security_gov, with a notice marked Makkah Region. We read the original Arabic notice and translated it ourselves.
The statement does not name the man, give his nationality, or say exactly where in Makkah it happened. We do not add those details either.
What Saudi General Security said
The official notice, in our translation from Arabic, says:
"Security authorities in the Holy Capital arrested a person for harassing passers-by and causing panic and fear among them. He was dealt with at the time and immediately, legal measures were taken against him, and he was referred to the Public Prosecution. [General Security] confirms that what is being circulated in claims about the incident is not true, and stresses the importance of taking information from its official sources."
"The Holy Capital" is the official Saudi name for Makkah. The Arabic word used for what the man did is "mudayaqa", which means bothering or harassing people. It is not the specific Saudi legal term for sexual harassment.
| Question | What the official statement says |
|---|---|
| Where | Makkah (the Holy Capital) |
| When announced | 2 October 2026 |
| What he did | Harassed passers-by and caused panic and fear |
| Action taken | Arrested, legal measures taken, referred to the Public Prosecution |
| Rumours | Claims being shared about the incident are not true |
The rumours the authority denied
Before the statement, videos and posts shared online described the incident in more alarming terms. Saudi press reports say these claims spoke of a person carrying "dangerous materials" in the Grand Mosque, and some posts called it an attempted attack.
The official statement rejects the claims being circulated and says the incident was a man harassing passers-by and causing panic. It does not repeat the rumours in detail, and it does not say the incident took place inside the Grand Mosque. Those details come from reports, not from the statement.
This matters because viral videos from Makkah spread fast in Pakistan, especially among families of people on Umrah. The authority's own advice is to rely on official sources, not forwarded clips.
How to check news from Makkah before you share it
- Look for the official account. Saudi General Security posts on X as @security_gov. Police and Hajj and Umrah security statements usually appear there or through the Saudi Press Agency.
- Check the date on the notice. This statement carries the date 2 October 2026 on its card. Old videos are often reshared as new.
- Read what the statement actually says. Official notices are short. Anything extra in a forwarded message, such as a name, a nationality or a weapon, is not official unless the statement says it.
- Do not forward alarming clips from the Haram. Saudi authorities have repeatedly asked people not to spread rumours about the holy sites.
- If someone you know is on Umrah, call them. A direct call is faster and more reliable than a WhatsApp forward.
What Pakistani pilgrims in Makkah should do if they are harassed
Many Pakistanis are in Makkah for Umrah at any time of year, so this is practical advice for families as well as travellers.
- Tell the nearest security officer. Security staff are posted throughout the Grand Mosque and the streets around it.
- Call the unified emergency number 911 for police in Saudi Arabia.
- Note the time and place, and the gate number if you are inside or near the Haram, so officers can find the right camera footage.
- Contact Pakistan's Consulate General in Jeddah if you need help from your own government, for example if your passport or phone is taken.
Before travelling, check the latest Umrah entry rules in our guide to the Umrah visa through Nusuk and the vaccine rules in the NADRA vaccination card guide.
Common questions
What happened in Makkah on 2 October 2026?
Saudi General Security says police in Makkah arrested a man for harassing passers-by and causing panic and fear. He was dealt with immediately and referred to the Public Prosecution.
Was there an attack at the Grand Mosque?
No attack was reported by Saudi authorities. General Security said the claims being shared about the incident are not true. Saudi press reports say those claims involved "dangerous materials" in the Haram.
Did it happen near the Kaaba?
The official statement says only "the Holy Capital", meaning Makkah. It does not say the Kaaba or the Grand Mosque. Some reports placed it at the Haram, but that is not in the statement.
Was the man Pakistani?
The statement does not give his name or nationality. Any message naming him or his nationality is not from the official statement.
Is Umrah travel affected?
No change to Umrah or access to the Grand Mosque was announced. The authority dealt with the person immediately, according to its statement.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 2 October 2026. We read the Arabic notice posted by Saudi General Security (@security_gov) on X on 2 October 2026, marked Makkah Region, and translated it ourselves. The detail that the denied claims concerned "dangerous materials" in the Grand Mosque comes from Saudi press reports of the statement, not from the notice itself. The statement does not name the man or give his nationality or the exact location. We will publish any further official statement as an update.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
