Saudi Arabia denies involvement of African pilgrims in deadly stampede

Saudi Arabia denied on Saturday the involvement of Africans in the deadly stampede in Mecca that killed 717 pilgrims, Sabq online newspaper reported.

A spokesperson of Mecca district denied recent news reports quoting the Mecca governor, Prince Khalid Al Faisal, as blaming African pilgrims for causing the stampede in Mina.

He said the governor hasn't provided such statement to local or foreign news agencies.

Up until now, Saudi authorities claimed 717 pilgrims were killed and 805 injured in the stampede.

The accident took place amid a rush of the stoning as part of Hajj rituals. Muslim pilgrims throw stones on a wall representing devil.

The spokesperson said an investigation has been launched into the worst disaster in a quarter-century.

Meanwhile, the Saudi official media reported on Saturday the kingdom's top religious leader said the stampede was beyond human control.

"You are not responsible for what happened. As for the things that humans cannot control, you are not blamed for them. Fate and destiny are inevitable," Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh told Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who is also the minister of interior, on Friday.

It was the second major accident involving massive casualties this month in Saudi Arabia. Earlier in September, 111 pilgrims were killed and 331 others injured in a crane crash in the grand mosque of Mecca. Endit