01:33Saudi Arabia: Stampede the result of two groups coming together - Interior Ministry
The Interior Ministry spokesperson General Mansour al-Turki gave a press conference in Mecca, Thursday, on the incident that left 717 dead and other 863 injured on the first day of Eid al-Adha.
Al-Turki said that the stampede occurred at a crossroads in Mina, two kilometres away from where the 'Stoning of the Devil' ritual is performed, and that two groups of pilgrims clashed into each other, as they were coming from different directions trying to get to the main road to reach the Jamrah of Aqaba, where the ritual takes place.
The Interior Ministry spokesperson added that the rescue operations are ongoing and that the Ministry of Interior is intent on researching all the causes that led to the tragedy. The operation for treatment of those injured features over 200 ambulances and around 4,000 rescue workers.
01:33The Interior Ministry spokesperson General Mansour al-Turki gave a press conference in Mecca, Thursday, on the incident that left 717 dead and other 863 injured on the first day of Eid al-Adha.
Al-Turki said that the stampede occurred at a crossroads in Mina, two kilometres away from where the 'Stoning of the Devil' ritual is performed, and that two groups of pilgrims clashed into each other, as they were coming from different directions trying to get to the main road to reach the Jamrah of Aqaba, where the ritual takes place.
The Interior Ministry spokesperson added that the rescue operations are ongoing and that the Ministry of Interior is intent on researching all the causes that led to the tragedy. The operation for treatment of those injured features over 200 ambulances and around 4,000 rescue workers.