Details emerge following suicide of Iraqi Hajj pilgrim in Mecca

The spokesperson of the Iraqi Hajj delegation Hassan Fahd al-Qanani revealed the reasons behind the suicide of pilgrim Hussein Hamid al-Haidari in Mecca’s Grand Mosque on Friday, during his trip to perform Hajj.

He said the deceased was struggling emotionally and psychologically following the death of his only son a few months ago.

According to local media, Haidari was repeating in high tone a prayer known among the Shiites, mentioning in it the name of Iraqi religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr before he committed suicide, throwing himself from the rooftop to the ground floor of the Grand Mosque.

The spokesman said Haidari was 43 years old and came from Baghdad with his mother to perform Hajj, adding that she is now in a critical medical condition following her son's suicide.

Earlier the Saudi Hajj Central Committee reported that the man was killed instantly upon impact, injuring two other pilgrims who have been transferred to a nearby health facility for treatment.

The head of the Iraqi Hajj delegation Khalid al-Attiah said a committee has been established in order to communicate with the Saudi authorities regarding the suicide, adding that the Saudi security authorities opened an investigation into the incident.