More than 700 people were killed in Saudi Arabia Thursday when a stampede took place on the outskirts of Mecca during the Hajj pilgrimage.
The deadly surge occurred in Mina, the Associated Press reports, as pilgrims were making their way to perform a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing rocks against three stone columns. Along with the 717 people who were killed by the stampede, at least 800 more were injured. It was the deadliest tragedy to strike the annual Muslim pilgrimage in more than 20 years.
Saudi security forces cordon the site where pilgrims were crushed and trampled to death during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 24, 2015. Mosa'ab Elshamy—APA muslim pilgrim walks through the site where the victims of a stampede are gathered in Mina, Saudi Arabia during the annual hajj pilgrimage on Sept. 24, 2015. APMuslim pilgrims and rescuers gather around people who died in Mina, Saudi Arabia during the annual hajj pilgrimage on Sept. 24, 2015.APSaudi medics tend to injured pilgrims after they arrived at an emergency hospital following a deadly stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, on the first day of Eid al-Adha on Sept. 24, 2015. Mohammed al-Shaikh—AFP/Getty ImagesMuslim pilgrims arrive to throw pebbles at pillars during the "Jamarat" ritual, the stoning of Satan, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, on Sept. 24, 2015. Mohammed al-Shaikh—AFP/Getty ImagesHundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims make their way to cast stones at a pillar symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, on Sept. 24, 2015. Mosa'ab Elshamy—APMuslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, on Sept. 24, 2015.Mosa'ab Elshamy—AP
