Manama: A man snatched the microphone at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and declared he was the Mahdi, the prophesied redeemer of Islam who is expected to come prior to the Day of Resurrection.
According to eyewitnesses, the imam has just started the Asr (afternoon) prayer when the man grabbed the microphone and made his announcement, Saudi daily Arab News reported.
Security officers inside the mosque quickly arrested the man who was said to be an Egyptian national in his 30s.
The man was taken to the police station on the mosque premises for investigation. Initial reports say that the man was suffering from mental problems, the daily said.
