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Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman highlights nationalities of stampede victims | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A Muslim pilgrim cries after viewing a portrait of her sister, a victim of a stampede, at al-Moaysem Medical Center, in Mena, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2006 (AP)


A Muslim pilgrim cries after viewing a portrait of her sister, a victim of a stampede, at al-Moaysem Medical Center, in Mena, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2006 (AP)

A Muslim pilgrim cries after viewing a portrait of her sister, a victim of a stampede, at al-Moaysem Medical Center, in Mena, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2006 (AP)

Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies – It has been confirmed that Thursday’s Jamarat bridge stampede in Mena has killed 363 people, the Official Security Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior major general Mansour Al-Turki stated in a press conference.

Hurried pilgrims who ignored instructions to leave behind baggage and others who joined the rituals illegally, swelling the massive crowds, were the cause of the stampede that killed 363 people during the Islamic hajj pilgrimage.

The Interior Ministry defended the performance of security forces in the disaster, saying they intervened within minutes and saved lives when the crush broke out during the ritual at al-Jamarat, a giant platform where three pillars representing the devil are located. Pilgrims pelt the pillars with stones in a symbolic purging of their sins.

Al-Turki explained that 203 dead pilgrims have been identified. This number includes 118 males and 85 females. He added that the process of identification continues. The identified victims include 11 Bangladeshis, 5 Algerians, 10 Egyptians, 44 Indians, 2 Omanis, 37 Pakistanis, 18 Saudis, 1 Jordanian, 7 Yemenis, 3 Iraqis, 2 Iranians, 2 Syrians, 6 Turks, 6 Sudanese, 6 Maldivians, 2 Chinese, 4 Moroccans, 5 Afghans, 1 Ethiopian, 1 German, 1 Turkmen, 1 Chadian, 1 Belgian, 1 Nigerian, 1 Palestinian, and 1 Ghanaian. The spokesman added that 45 people who were injured during the stampede remain in hospital.

The spokesman highlighted efforts exerted by authorities saying security forces “were alerted to the incident immediately once it was seen through observation cameras, and moved in within two minutes.”

Major General Mansour Al-Turki attributed the stampede to overcrowding in the area of Jamarat, giving journalists a detailed analysis of the stampede, complete with security camera footage of the crowds and computer images of the platform.

Many pilgrims ignored police requests that they leave their baggage to be stored at a separate site nearby. “So we see a lot of umbrellas and other belongings. This leads to a great deal of stumbling among the pilgrims. There are people carrying plastic bags, water bottles. … Some pilgrims drop their belongings because they’re a burden.”

Next week, Saudi authorities will begin tearing down the current platform and building a new four-level one with more access ramps to accommodate the millions of pilgrims, al-Turki said. The new platform is to be finished within two years.

The massive crowd of pilgrims had gathered at the entrance ramp on Thursday just before midday, al-Turki said. “At first they’re not moving. But once the call to prayer comes, they start to move all at once,” forcing people to quickly pick up their bags or drop whatever is in their hands, he said.

The pilgrims are then rushing to finish by sunset so they can return to Mecca, giving a window of only a few hours for hundreds of thousands of people to perform the ritual.

Muslim pilgrims walk toward the site of Thursday's stampede, in Mena, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2006 (AP)

Muslim pilgrims walk toward the site of Thursday’s stampede, in Mena, Saudi Arabia, January 13, 2006 (AP)

Spokesman of the Saudi interior ministry General Mansour al-Turki speaks during a news conference in Jeddah, January 13, 2006 (REUTERS)

Spokesman of the Saudi interior ministry General Mansour al-Turki speaks during a news conference in Jeddah, January 13, 2006 (REUTERS)