Questions, finger-pointing after stampede at Hajj kills hundreds
- 9 years ago
A day after a deadly crush killed 717 people during Hajj in Saudi Arabia, a critical question remained Friday: what caused the chaotic stampede?
Saudi officials are trying to figure out what went horribly wrong this week during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Mina.
But some who made the journey said various factors may have played a role.
More than 2 million Muslims from around the world are in Saudi Arabia for Hajj, a pilgrimage that all Muslims who have the financial and physical ability must make at some point in their lives.
"There's so little time to complete the rituals," Hajj pilgrim Ethar El-Katatney said.
"People like to do the first stoning in the morning," he told CNN from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Even though Saudi officials are extremely versed in hosting Hajj crowds, many of the pilgrims are making the journey for the first time - and might not be prepared to follow all directions or handle the chaos.
Saudi officials are trying to figure out what went horribly wrong this week during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and Mina.
But some who made the journey said various factors may have played a role.
More than 2 million Muslims from around the world are in Saudi Arabia for Hajj, a pilgrimage that all Muslims who have the financial and physical ability must make at some point in their lives.
"There's so little time to complete the rituals," Hajj pilgrim Ethar El-Katatney said.
"People like to do the first stoning in the morning," he told CNN from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Even though Saudi officials are extremely versed in hosting Hajj crowds, many of the pilgrims are making the journey for the first time - and might not be prepared to follow all directions or handle the chaos.