King Salman orders review of Hajj plan

Saud King Salman on Thursday in a televised speech offered his condolences after more than 700 people were killed in a stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah earlier, and said he has ordered a review of the country’s pilgrimage plan.

The king also said he had requested a swift investigation into what he described as a painful incident where at least 863 others were injured in the crush at a crossroad on Street 204 at the camp city in Mina, a few kilometers east of Makkah.

At a press conference before sunset prayers, Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told reporters that the street at which the stampede took place “witnessed unprecedented high number of pilgrims” compared to previous years.

Turki said the investigation would look into what caused an unusual density of pilgrims to congregate at the location of the disaster. “The reason for that is not known yet,” he told a news conference in Mina.

Meanwhile, the White House on Thursday offered condolences after a “heartbreaking” stampede.

(With AFP)