The 2006 Hajj stampede or crush resulted in the deaths of 363 pilgrims on 12 January 2006 during the Hajj in Mecca. It took place on Jamaraat Bridge around 1pm on 12 January 2006, the fifth and final day of the Hajj. Between two and three million pilgrims attended the Hajj in 2006. Earlier, on 5 January at least 76 pilgrims died when a hostel collapsed in Mecca. The incident was caused by pilgrims tripping over luggage. Background The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage in Mecca undertaken by able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime. It consists of a series of rites including the Stoning of the Devil ( , "stoning of the [place of pebbles]") which takes place in Mina, a district of Mecca. The stoning ritual is the last major ritual and is often regarded as the most dangerous part of the Hajj, stampedes having occurred in the past. With a history of fatal stampedes and crushes at the Hajj – including a stampede which killed 244 in 2004 – authorities in Mecca had taken steps in the hopes of reducing chances of another stampede, including the issuing of a fatwa extending the permitted hours of the ritual. Incident & casualties Tens of thousands of pilgrims rushing to finish a symbolic stoning ritual before sunset during the annual pilgrimage tripped over luggage on Thursday, 12 January 2006, causing a stampede which killed 363 people and injured hundreds more. Saudi Interior Ministry Spokesman Major-General Mansur al-Turki said that the incident took place at 12:28 [09:28 GMT]. The stampede occurred at Jamarat Bridge, during an event where stones are thrown by pilgrims to three pillars representing the devil to purge themselves of sin. Genders and nationalities of casualties The number of fatalities reached 363, 203 of whom were identified within the first two days. Among deaths were 118 males and 85 females. Casualties include multiple nationalities, with Chinese, Moroccans, Afghans, Ethiopians, Bangladeshis, Algerians, Saudis, Jordanians, Yemenis, Iraqis, Iranians, Syrians, Turks, Sudanese, Maldivians, Egyptians, Indians, Omanis, Pakistanis, Nigerians, Palestinians and nationals from Germany, Belgium, Chad and Ghana. Eyewitness reports "The bodies were piled up. I couldn't count them—they were too many," said Suad Abu Hamada. "Everybody was pushing from behind to get through and suddenly police blocked the entrance and people started falling on each other", said Mohammed al-Farra. Reactions and immediate action by Saudi government Despite criticism of the