SAUDI ARABIA: MUSLIMS GATHER IN MECCA TO PRAY AT THE GRAND MOSQUE AMID HEAVY SECURITY

Record ID: 189755

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: MUSLIMS GATHER IN MECCA TO PRAY AT THE GRAND MOSQUE AMID HEAVY SECURITY
  • Date: 28th January 2004
  • Summary: (W7) JEDDAH - MECCA HIGHWAY, SAUDIA ARABIA (28TH JANUARY 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV BUSES AND CARS DRIVING UP TO CHECKPOINT 0.05 2. SLV POLICE BARRICADES 0.10 3. SLV POLICEMEN STANDING AT CHECKPOINT/STOPPING CARS 0.16 4. SV/CU POLICEMAN CHECKING DRIVERS LICENSE AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS (2 SHOTS) 0.25 5. SLV POLICEMEN STOPPING CARS 0.31 6. CU PULL OUT SLV SIGN ON POLICE BARRICADE READING STATE SECURITY/ CARS AND BUSES DRIVING THROUGH CHECKPOINT 0.43 7. SV POLICEMEN CHECKING PILGRIM IDENTIFICATION 0.55 8. SLV/SV POLICE CHECKING CARS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (3 SHOTS) 1.14 (W8) MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (JANUARY 28, 2004) (REUTERS) 9. LV GRAND MOSQUE WITH PEOPLE PRAYING OUTSIDE GRAND MOSQUE 1.18 10. LV SEVERAL SHOTS OF PEOPLE PRAYING OUTSIDE THE GRAND MOSQUE DURING AFTERNOON PRAYERS (3 SHOTS) 1.44 11. SLV PULL OUT LV MAN ON WHEELCHAIR PRAYING 2.08 12. HIGH SHOT OF PEOPLE PRAYING DUSK PRAYER AT GRAND MOSQUE 2.18 13. LV/SV MINARETS OF GRAND MOSQUE AT DUSK PRAYER (2 SHOTS) 2.28 14. PAN OF GRAND MOSQUE 2.38 15. TV PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF GRAND MOSQUE (2 SHOTS) 2.48 16. MCU ( Arabic) PALESTINIAN PILGRIM REBHEY YASSEN SPEAKING AFTER PRAYERS, SAYING "I ask God to help the Islamic nation to succeed and free our country from the Jews and give the Al Aqsa mosque back to the Muslims." 2.56 17. LV GRAND MOSQUE 3.01 18. LV THE KAABA 3.06 19. SV MINARETS 3.11 20. LV/GV GRAND MOSQUE (3 SHOTS) 3.27 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 12th February 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JEDDA-MECCA HIGHWAY AND MECCA,SAUDI ARABIA
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Reuters ID: LVA471BLNRQTDM3SINCSOPIWSIJW
  • Story Text: Over a million Muslims gather in the holy city of
    Mecca to pray at the grand mosque amid heavy security.



    Roads leading to Mecca witnessed large amounts of
    traffic as pilgrims flocked to the holy city of Mecca days
    before the annual haj.

    Several police checkpoints were held on the Jeddah
    Mecca highway on Wednesday (January 28). Police checked
    travellers' identification and some cars were taken aside
    for searching.

    This comes as the kingdom has also stepped up security
    measures, fearing possible militant attacks similar to the
    bombings in the capital Riyadh that killed more than 50
    people last year. The bombings were blamed on Saudi-born
    Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda group.

    This year's haj is the first since suicide bombings in
    the Saudi capital Riyadh killed more than 50 people last
    year and also follows the U.S. invasion of Iraq which has
    drawn Muslim militants towards Saudi Arabia's northern
    neighbour.

    Diplomats say the Saudi government is deeply worried
    the haj, which in past years has been plagued by stampedes
    and accidents, could become a target for attack or be used
    as a cover for militants to infiltrate the kingdom.

    Asking God for deliverance, more than one million
    Muslims flooded the holy city of Mecca on Wednesday ahead
    of the annual haj pilgrimage.

    The haj rituals, laid down by Prophet Mohammad 14
    centuries ago, see Muslims move around a circuit of several
    kilometres in
    the mountainous terrain around Mecca over a five-day period.


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