Mina, Saudi Arabia, Feb 12: Saudi authorities beefed up security today as Muslim pilgrims carried on with a symbolic stoning of the devil following the deaths of 14 people in a stampede yesterday. The extra measures targeted a two-tier bridge where three giant concrete pillars represent Satan. Muslims on their annual pilgrimage gather pebbles and hurl them at the pillars at a site where it is believed the devil first appeared to Abraham, his wife Hagar and his son Ishmael.
The head of the pilgrimage command and control center Brigadier Abdul Aziz Saeed denied reports that the number of deaths had increased. Newspapers today said 21 people were wounded, but only two of them remain in hospital.
Those killed included four Pakistanis, three Indians, two Egyptians and one each from Sudan, Yemen and Iran. Two others remain unidentified
The stampede occurred as groups of pilgrims were moving in opposite directions just before the bridge.
Until yesterday, the pilgrimage -- or Hajj -- had been performed without major incident, despite the movement of huge numbers of people
This year's procession has taken place under extra-tight security at a time of rising tension in the region brought on by mounting us threats to invade and occupy Iraq, a predominantly Islamic country and Saudi Arabia's northern neighbour.
Bureau Report