Man attempts self-immolation near holy Kaaba

The man wearing Umrah garb, identified as a Saudi national in his 40s, was dousing himself in gasoline when he was caught, police spokesman Major Sameh al-Salmi said. “He was held before he went on with his dramatic self-immolation act and his behaviour indicates that he is mentally ill. All the necessary measures will be taken,” Saudi news site Sabq quoted the spokesman as saying. 

A 23-second video, posted on social media, shows dozens of pilgrims who were surrounding the assailant while he was pouring gasoline on himself beside the Kaaba on Monday evening. Police and pilgrims overpowered the man and escorted him away before he could light the petrol. Citing security forces at the Grand Mosque, the Gulf News said the man was “trying to kill himself and not attempting to set the sacred cubic structure ablaze as reported.” One eyewitness told Sabq that the man had been uttering “takfiri” slogans, referring to extremist Islamist groups like Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

Some 39,000 Pakistani nationals have been deported from Saudi Arabia in the past four months for visa violations even as a top security official has ordered a “thorough scrutiny” of Pakistanis amid concern that some of them could be ISIS sympathisers.