Skip to content
Team login Let's create

November 20, 1979 Mekke Masjid al-Haram

Armed militants seize Masjid al-Haram

On 20 November 1979, the first day of the Hijri year 1400, an armed group led by Juhayman al-Otaybi seized Masjid al-Haram after the dawn prayer. The siege lasted about two weeks and ended in early December 1979, when Saudi forces regained control of the mosque.

Time since
47 years
In the other calendar
1 Muharrem 1400

Sources

  1. Arab News — How the 1979 attack on Makkah's Grand Mosque shook Saudi society
  2. EBSCO Research Starters — Saudi Arabia Beheads Sixty-three Persons for Attack on Mecca

On the same subject

  1. 201511 years ago

    Crane collapses onto Masjid al-Haram during a storm

    On 11 September 2015, during strong winds and heavy rain in Mecca, a construction crane collapsed onto Masjid al-Haram. Saudi Civil Defense said at least 107 people were killed and 238 injured.

    Masjid al-Haram Mekke 1436 Hicrî Source: Asharq Al-Awsat (English) — Dozens killed in Me…