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At least 50 pligrims die in Jamarat stampede in Mina
At least 50 pilgrims died and others were injured Thursday in a stampede on the last day of Jamarat (a symbolic stoning ritual at the Hajj) in Mina, Saudi Arabia, said CNN. CNN cited officials saying the number of people killed Thursday was unknown, but news agencies put the toll in the dozens -- and perhaps higher than 50. Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said the stampede happened after some pieces of luggage dropped from moving buses, added CNN, noting that Saudi authorities transported the injured pilgrims to nearby hospitals.
The radio report I heard sez the pilgrims raced out of lunchtime prayers, all fired up, and tripped over luggage that "fell off a bus", leading to the tramplage.

Posted by: Seafarious 2006-01-12
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=139627