Grand Mosque Mecca

One million people, including 850,000 from abroad, are allowed at this year's hajj -- a key pillar of Islam that all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform at least once -- after two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday reimposed social distancing measures at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, after recording the highest number of infections in months.

The Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia operated at full capacity Sunday, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

A Saudi man rammed a car at high speed into the outer walls of Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, authorities said on Saturday.

Cleaners scrub and sterilise the floors of Mecca's Grand Mosque after fears of coronavirus led Saudi Arabia to suspend pilgrim visas, but worshippers appear unfazed -- confident of God's protection.

A Frenchman has committed suicide by throwing himself off the roof of the Grand Mosque in Islam's holiest city of Mecca, Saudi and French officials said Saturday.

The government is working on a new Haj pilgrimage policy which is likely to be announced next year, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said while inaugurating a vaccination programme for Haj pilgrims in Hyderabad

Iran on Saturday condemned a suicide bombing near Islam's holiest site in Mecca and offered Saudi Arabia its assistance in tackling terrorism despite their severed ties.

Saudi security forces on Friday foiled a suicide attack on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, cornering the would-be attacker in an apartment, where he blew himself up, the Interior Ministry said.

Saudi Arabian police foiled on Friday a "terrorist action" against Islam's holiest site, where millions of faithful from around the world have gathered, the state Al-Ekhbaria news channel said.

Saudi police arrested an apparently "mentally disturbed" man who tried to set himself on fire at Islam's holiest site, the Grand Mosque in Mecca, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

Al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen threatened the Saudi government over its plan to carry out a mass execution of prisoners, including al Qaeda members, the militant group announced in a statement posted on social media.

The death toll of Indians in the Haj stampede has risen to 101 even as 32 nationals still remain missing after the last month's tragedy.

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is being rushed to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with the authorities there to trace the missing Indians in the Haj stampede last month.

The death toll of Indian pilgrims in last week's horrific stampede during Haj today rose to 29 as authorities identified seven more bodies among the victims of the worst incident in 25 years to strike the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

One million people, including 850,000 from abroad, are allowed at this year's hajj -- a key pillar of Islam that all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform at least once -- after two years of drastically curtailed numbers due to the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia on Thursday reimposed social distancing measures at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, after recording the highest number of infections in months.

The Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia operated at full capacity Sunday, with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.

A Saudi man rammed a car at high speed into the outer walls of Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, authorities said on Saturday.

Cleaners scrub and sterilise the floors of Mecca's Grand Mosque after fears of coronavirus led Saudi Arabia to suspend pilgrim visas, but worshippers appear unfazed -- confident of God's protection.

A Frenchman has committed suicide by throwing himself off the roof of the Grand Mosque in Islam's holiest city of Mecca, Saudi and French officials said Saturday.

The government is working on a new Haj pilgrimage policy which is likely to be announced next year, Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said while inaugurating a vaccination programme for Haj pilgrims in Hyderabad

Iran on Saturday condemned a suicide bombing near Islam's holiest site in Mecca and offered Saudi Arabia its assistance in tackling terrorism despite their severed ties.

Saudi security forces on Friday foiled a suicide attack on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, cornering the would-be attacker in an apartment, where he blew himself up, the Interior Ministry said.

Saudi Arabian police foiled on Friday a "terrorist action" against Islam's holiest site, where millions of faithful from around the world have gathered, the state Al-Ekhbaria news channel said.

Saudi police arrested an apparently "mentally disturbed" man who tried to set himself on fire at Islam's holiest site, the Grand Mosque in Mecca, a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

Al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen threatened the Saudi government over its plan to carry out a mass execution of prisoners, including al Qaeda members, the militant group announced in a statement posted on social media.

The death toll of Indians in the Haj stampede has risen to 101 even as 32 nationals still remain missing after the last month's tragedy.

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh is being rushed to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with the authorities there to trace the missing Indians in the Haj stampede last month.

The death toll of Indian pilgrims in last week's horrific stampede during Haj today rose to 29 as authorities identified seven more bodies among the victims of the worst incident in 25 years to strike the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.