Teenager was detained by police after video went viral showing him dancing to song at an intersection in Jeddah

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Saudi police have released a 14-year-old boy who was filmed dancing to the Macarena at an intersection in the Red Sea city of Jeddah, according to local media reports.

The video, which went viral on social media in the kingdom in recent days, shows the boy wearing headphones, grey shorts, a striped T-shirt and neon green and yellow Crocs. He is swaying his hips and arms to the 90s hit song, and smiling and giggling throughout.

The state-linked al-Riyadh news website quoted Col Aati bin Attiyah al-Qurashi as saying the 14-year-old Arab national had been brought to police along with his father, who was asked to sign a pledge vowing to protect his son and not to violate public morals. Qurashi said the boy was then swiftly released from custody.

Police said the video appeared to be a year old. On Tuesday, state-linked news websites reported that the boy had been detained for disrupting traffic and improper public behaviour after the video resurfaced.

Western music and dancing is taboo in Saudi Arabia, but such incidents in the past have not necessarily led to lengthy imprisonment or serious punishment.

Traditional dance is permitted. The Saudi king Salman and Donald Trump were filmed taking part in a traditional all-male Saudi sword dance in May when the US president visited the kingdom to boost ties.

Saudi Arabia’s young heir to the throne, 31-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has pushed for greater openings for entertainment in the kingdom, including allowing a limited number of musical concerts after a more than 20-year ban.

He has also encouraged young Saudis to become more physically active as part of a wide-reaching reform agenda that includes raising life expectancy in the country.