User:WendyJinglian/sandbox2

Incident & Casualties:
Tens of thousands of pilgrims rushing to finish a symbolic stoning ritual before sunset during the annual pilgrimage tripped over luggage on Thursday, 12 January 2006, causing a stampede in which killed 363 people and hundreds injured. Saudi Interior Ministry Spokesman Major-General Mansur al-Turki said that the incident took place at 1228 [0928 gmt]. The stampede occured at Jamarat Bridge, during an event where stones were thrown by hundreds of pilgrims to three pillars representing the devil to purge themselves of sin. The stampede took place when luggage from a bus tripped pilgrims in a scramble at the eastern end of the wall, causing a pile-up. The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims, which is a duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime.

Eyewitness Report:
"The bodies were piled up. I couldn't count them - they were too many," said Suad Abu Hamada. “Everybody was pushing from behind to get through and suddenly police blocked the entrance and people started falling on each other,” said Mohammed al-Farra.