Fresh Horror!!

[razrif]

Over 100 Muslim pilgrims dead in haj crush: medics

29 minutes ago

MENA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - More than 100 Muslim pilgrims were crushed to death during a stoning ritual on the last day of the haj, medical sources said on Thursday.

"It is more than 100," said a medic in Mena outside the holy city of Mecca.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said earlier in a statement that an unknown number of people had been killed in the crush at the eastern entrance of Mena's Jamarat Bridge after pilgrims jostled to perform the stoning ritual between noon and sunset.

[razrif]

A BBC correspondent at the scene in Mina saw dozens of bodies lined up on the ground, covered in white sheets.

The ritual has been marred by deadly stampedes in the past.

After a crush in 2004, the authorities built barriers and deployed tens of thousands of stewards in a bid to improve safety during the ceremony.

Bridge surge

The stampede took place at the foot of the bridge of Jamarat, where pilgrims hurl stones at three pillars representing the spot where the devil appeared to Abraham.


View the safety changes made to the Jamarat Bridge after the previous fatal stampede.

Enlarge Image

An interior ministry spokesman, Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki, told the Associated Press news agency that the stampede happened after pieces of luggage spilled from moving buses in front of one of the entrances to the bridge, causing pilgrims to trip.

More than two million people were thought to be performing the rite, at the time.

Witness Abdullah Pulig, an Indian street-cleaner, described a scene of carnage.

"I saw people moving and suddenly I heard crying, shouting, wailing. I looked around and people were piling on each other. They started pulling dead people from the crowd," he was quoted by AP as saying.

Ambulances and police cars streamed into the area, as security forces tried to move people away from the scene of the accident.

The pilgrims were returning via Mina after performing the Tawaf al-Wada, a farewell ceremony that involves walking around the Kaaba - a cube-like building in the centre of Mecca's Great Mosque - seven times.

The Tawaf al-Wada is performed after the Hajj has finished.

The stoning is the riskiest ritual of the Hajj, as worshippers jostle to try to target the stones, often causing weaker pilgrims to fall under foot.

In 2004, more than 200 pilgrims were trampled to death while performing the same ceremony.

The latest deadly stampede come days after more than 70 people died when a hostel for pilgrims collapsed in the Saudi city of Mecca.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and every able-bodied adult Muslim is obliged to perform it at least once in their lives.

[aswad]

Every year in this way.......

[Anisa]

Allah e rahmoum msaken. So sad wallah, you'd think the Saudi Govt would restrict the number of visitors for safety

[Nims]

Originally Posted by Anisa

Allah e rahmoum msaken. So sad wallah, you'd think the Saudi Govt would restrict the number of visitors for safety

Why should they?...It is a good source of income.

[Nims]

By the way, they should complete the Pilgrimage by visiting Jerusalem. We will make trip to Israel an unforgattable experience.

[Nims]

Originally Posted by Chuck-D

As unforgattable as your two nights with adonis?

Yes baby.

BTW, I didn't know you were her pimp. Since you are a pimp, I am interested in Anisa....Can you hook us up?