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Death Toll Rises to 362 in Hajj Stampede
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1090EF5:3919ACA Saudi Interior
Ministry officials blame pilgrims for stampede, saying they defied
rules and carried belongings with them during stoning





After having thrown stones toward a pillar representing the devil,
Muslim pilgrims prepare themselves to leave the Saudi Arabian city of
Mina

Officials in Saudi Arabia say the death toll from Thursday's stampede
during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca has risen to 362.

The new death toll comes as Saudi officials say pilgrims were to blame
for the deadly crush on the final day of the sacred hajj rituals.

The victims were crushed when thousands of pilgrims gathered at the
Jamarat Bridge in Mina to perform a stoning ritual.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said pilgrims defied rules and carried
belongings with them, and some pilgrims tripped over baggage in the
rush to perform the ritual.

But some pilgrims said better security could have averted the tragedy.

Saudi authorities redesigned access to the site and deployed 60,000
security personnel this year in an effort to avoid stampedes.

The stone-throwing ritual has been marred by stampedes in the past,
including one that killed 240 pilgrims two years ago.

 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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