13/01/2006

Briton killed in Hajj stampede

A British pilgrim was among the victims of yesterday's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, it has been confirmed.

The man has been named as Fiaz Haque, 38, from Uxbridge, Middlesex.

There have also been reports that a second Briton, believed to be from the Birmingham area, has also been killed. At least two Britons have also been injured.

More than 350 pilgrims are believed to have died in the stampede, which broke out as pilgrims participated in the annual stone-throwing ritual at al Jamarat - three pillars which represent the devil. Hundreds more were injured.

The stampede is thought to have been caused by luggage falling from buses, causing pilgrims to trip and be trampled by the crowds behind them.

The pilgrimage has been marred by tragedy over the past decade, with a number of similar tragedies occurring over the years. In the worst incident, 1,426 people died in stampede in 1990, while 244 people died in another stampede in 2004.

There was further tragedy at this year's pilgrimage, when a hostel, being used by pilgrims in Mecca, collapsed last Thursday, killing 76 people.

The Hajj pilgrimage is a journey that all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform once in their lifetime.

Around 25,000 British Muslims are believed to have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, which attracted more than two million pilgrims from all over the world.

(KMcA/SP)

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