MAKKAH, 24 December 2007 — A 48-year-old Indonesian pilgrim was arrested after reportedly attacking other pilgrims inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah at around 9 p.m. Saturday night, local authorities said yesterday.
The suspect allegedly carried a kitchen knife hidden in his ihram and stabbed three pilgrims: a 39-year-old Indian and two Indonesians, one of them 58 years old and the other 42. All were treated for their wounds at Al-Ajyad Hospital.
The Indian pilgrim, who declined to press charges, was treated and released. The two Indonesians were still in the hospital yesterday but are expected to recover.
According to authorities, the suspect is mentally unstable and had been causing trouble in his delegation’s Haj camp. He reportedly attacked other members of his group, but they didn’t report the incident to the police. The attacker was initially transferred to King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Al-Zaher district for observation.
Tariq Al-Bar, chief psychologist at the hospital, said the suspect has since been transferred to a specialist hospital in Taif “for more examination and to write a report about his condition.”
Al-Bar urged the Haj institutions to keep the authorities informed of pilgrims exhibiting violent behavior so such incidents can be avoided. He said these patients should get medical help and hospital doors are always open.
