A British-based Hajj adviser has accused the
Saudi royal family of causing the deadly crowd stampede that killed more
than 700 pilgrims, as relatives of British Muslims on the pilgrimage
continued to wait for news of loved ones.
With the Saudi authorities facing mounting criticism of their safety
record at the Hajj, Mohammad Jafari, who advises a UK-based Hajj tour
firm, said that the deadly crush had been caused by police closing two
road entrances because of a visit by VIPs to the nearby palace of King
Salman, the Saudi monarch. The claim was angrily denied by Saudi
officials last night.
Mr Jafari told
BBC Radio on Friday morning: "The main reason for this accident was
that the King in his palace was receiving dignitaries... and for this
reason they closed two of the entrances, where people were not able to
proceed. If you stop that stream and the population builds up,
eventually there is going to be accidents."
His claim was refuted by Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud, the Saudi
ambassador to London, who said: "Claims that the stampede occurred
following road closures because of ministerial event or a dignitaries'
convoy are false. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s senior dignitaries
vehicles do not travel through this area."
Mr Jafari made his allegations as the Foreign Office continued to make
inquiries about the welfare of British pilgrims, thousands of whom
attend the Hajj every year.
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