BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Hundreds killed in Hajj stampede

by martijn · January 12, 2006

At least 345 Muslim pilgrims have been killed in a crush during stone-throwing ritual at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say.

Hundreds of pilgrims have also been injured. A BBC correspondent at the scene in Mina saw dozens of bodies lined up on the ground.

The ritual has seen many lethal stampedes but the number of dead this time is the highest in 16 years.

After a crush in 2004, barriers and stewards were added to improve safety.