The Grand Mosque's security forces prevented a young Arab pilgrim from committing suicide at around Maghreb prayers on Friday evening. The young man, in his twenties, tried to jump off the Al-Masa'a building's third floor overlooking the eastern courtyards of the Grand Mosque. Lt. Col. Ali Al-Muntashiri, Makkah Civil Defense spokesman, said that a Civil Defense rescue team went to the scene after the operations unit received a call asking for a forklift and a big air balloon to be used if the young man decided to jump. “The Civil Defense team tried to calm the pilgrim and contain the situation. They succeeded in their mission and handed the young man over to the Grand Mosque's police station for further investigations.” The team dealt professionally with the situation and treated the pilgrim with respect, Al-Muntashiri added. Sources told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the young man tried to commit suicide to attract the attention of visitors and express his objection to bloodshed in his country. He wanted Arab countries to intervene to stop the bloodshed. Lt. Col. Abdul Mohsin Al-Maiman, spokesman of Makkah Police, said the case will be referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution. __
