By — News Desk News Desk Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/hundreds-die-stampede-annual-hajj-pilgrimage Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Hundreds die in stampede during annual hajj pilgrimage World Sep 24, 2015 10:02 AM EDT At least 717 people were killed and more than 800 wounded Thursday in a stampede near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the annual hajj pilgrimage. The stampede occurred in Mina, about six miles from Mecca, on the first day of Eid al-Adha as millions of Muslims were making their way to the holy city. It appeared to be the deadliest incident since 1990 when 1,426 pilgrims died in another stampede in a tunnel linking Mina to Mecca. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, is Islam’s most importance feast and the day pilgrims stone three pillars in Mina in a ritual meant to symbolize when the devil tried to keep Abraham from obeying God’s order to slaughter his son. The event was a test from God, who gave Abraham a ram to kill instead. A Muslim pilgrim prays on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat in Saudi Arabia during the annual hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca on Sept. 23. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Muslim pilgrims perform prayers in Arafat during the annual hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca Sept. 23. More than 160,000 pilgrims spend the night around Mecca during the pilgrimage. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 24. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters A Muslim girl touches the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Sept. 24. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Muslim pilgrims touch the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 24. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Follow @NewsHourWorld By — News Desk News Desk
At least 717 people were killed and more than 800 wounded Thursday in a stampede near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the annual hajj pilgrimage. The stampede occurred in Mina, about six miles from Mecca, on the first day of Eid al-Adha as millions of Muslims were making their way to the holy city. It appeared to be the deadliest incident since 1990 when 1,426 pilgrims died in another stampede in a tunnel linking Mina to Mecca. Eid al-Adha, or Feast of the Sacrifice, is Islam’s most importance feast and the day pilgrims stone three pillars in Mina in a ritual meant to symbolize when the devil tried to keep Abraham from obeying God’s order to slaughter his son. The event was a test from God, who gave Abraham a ram to kill instead. A Muslim pilgrim prays on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat in Saudi Arabia during the annual hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca on Sept. 23. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Muslim pilgrims perform prayers in Arafat during the annual hajj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca Sept. 23. More than 160,000 pilgrims spend the night around Mecca during the pilgrimage. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 24. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters A Muslim girl touches the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca in Saudi Arabia on Sept. 24. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Muslim pilgrims touch the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque on the first day of Eid al-Adha during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 24. Photo by Ahmad Masood/Reuters Follow @NewsHourWorld