Maid caught just before jump-to-death attempt

An Asian housemaid went to the rooftop of a building and wanted to jump down in a suicide bid but was caught by a police officer in the last moment.

The maid was seen standing on the edge of the top of a building in the central town of Buraidah, ignoring pleas by the swelling crowd not to kill herself.

"As the crowd kept begging her, police colonel Saleh al Qarzaei climbed stealthily to the top of the building from the other side, rushed to the maid and grabbed her just as she was about to jump," Ajel newspaper said.

It said police were questioning the maid on Monday to know her motives.