50 Muslim pilgrims killed during hajj

A stampede Thursday on the final day of the Muslim hajj ceremonies in Saudi Arabia killed at least 50 pilgrims during a stone-throwing rite.

Despite barriers and many thousand stewards working on crowd control, the throng got out of control during the Rami ceremony of casting out the devil by throwing rocks at three pillars.

There were reports the crush began on the last day of the event as people began tripping over luggage laid out for the return home.

In 2004, more than 200 pilgrims were trampled to death while performing the same ceremony, UPI reports.

V.Y.