A Deadly Day in Saudi Arabia

A stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia has left 345 people dead. The rush began when thousands of Muslim pilgrims began rushing to complete a symbolic stoning ritual during the hajj when they began tripping over luggage, causing a crush which left 345 people dead. This happened as tens of thousands of Muslims headed toward al-Jamarat, a series of three pillars which, according to custom, represents the devil that the Muslims will pelt with stones to purge themselves of sin. But instead of purging their sins, they would up purging the lives of 345 of their fellow kin. More than 1,000 were injured in the stampede. In 1990, about 1,426 people were killed in the hajj, and in 2004 another 244 people died