Saudi Arabia ups security around Grand Mosque after crash

Cairo: Saudi security authorities have started setting up barriers at all entrances of all courtyards of the Grand Mosque in the Holy city of Mecca to block cars from having access to the site, a local newspaper reported Tuesday.

On Friday, a speeding car crashed into a door of the mosque without causing casualties. The driver was arrested and found in an “abnormal condition,” according to police.

Al Watan newspaper, citing unidentified well-informed sources, said that authorities have also built bumps on roads leading to the Grand Mosque to reduce car speeds.

“These barriers and bumps do not hamper the movement of pedestrians and worshippers coming to perform prayers and the Umrah rituals in the Grand Mosque,” the sources said.

Last month, Saudi Arabia started gradual resumption of the Umrah amid stringent precautions against COVID-19 after suspension of around seven months due to the pandemic.

The first batches of Umrah pilgrims from outside the kingdom began arriving Sunday.