Macca(INO)-At least 150 pilgrims were killed in a crush at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, where some two million people are performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia’s al-Ekhbariya television reported.
The news channel also cited civil defence officials as saying that 390 people were injured in the incident. Al Jazeera’s Omar Alsaleh, reporting from Mecca, said the number of deaths may rise.
“This is only the initial number. The stoning of the devil ritual was being carried out today, Omer Al Salah, reporting from Mecca,” Alsaleh said.
“The Hajj season was already overshadowed by the crane accident that killed 107 people and wounded more than 200. That area has turned to a big massive construction site to allow more pilgrims to visit Mecca during Hajj.”
Idale News Online, Mecca
