Sean Banville Hajj Tragedy Lyrics

Tragedy strikes Hajj at Mina
Saudi authorities are asking questions about how 363 Muslims were trampled to death at the Hajj religious pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on Thursday. The tragedy happened even though the police had put many more specially trained officers on duty to prevent this kind of disaster. The pilgrims lost their lives in a stampede at the entrance to a bridge in Mina, near Mecca. Hundreds of thousands of worshippers cross the bridge to pelt stones at huge rocks symbolizing the devil. The act is part of a ritual for people to cleanse themselves of sin. The tragedy may have started by people falling over luggage that fell from a bus.
Authorities are now searching for answers as to how such tragedy can be avoided in the future. Event organizers are blaming pilgrims for disobeying orders given by security guards to not carry large items of luggage. Saudi's Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz said the police did everything they could and "averted many more disasters from happening". The Hajj is a pilgrimage, which all able-bodied Muslims should go on at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. About two million believers from around 180 countries make the trip to Mecca each year.