Pilgrims stone Satan in last rite of hajj feast

THOUSANDS of Muslim pilgrims massed in a valley near the Saudi holy city of Mina yesterday for the stoning of Satan, the last and most dangerous rite of the annual hajj.

Hundreds of people have been trampled to death in stampedes which have blighted several previous pilgrimages to Islam’s holiest sites when the faithful rush to hurl stones at huge pillars symbolising the devil.

To complete the ritual, a pilgrim must throw 21 pebbles at each of three 24 metre (82-foot) pillars and this year the faithful were given pebbles in pre-packed bags to spare them the effort of searching for the stones. So far this year, no incidents of significance have been reported, although a record number of pilgrims from abroad travelled to the holy sites, with a total of nearly two and a half million worshippers.