Minister: at Least 244 Pilgrims Killed in Haj Crush

MENA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - At least 244 Muslim pilgrims were crushed to death and the same number injured in a stampede during the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, a Saudi minister said.

"There were 244 pilgrims who died in the incident in Jamarat and 244 who were injured," Pilgrimage Affairs and Endowments Minister Iyad bin Amin Madani told reporters without giving a breakdown of the nationalities.

Two million pilgrims had flocked to Jamarat Bridge in Mena to throw pebbles at pillars representing the devil.