Muslim pilgrims mass in Makkah for Haj

Makkah, Saudi Arabia - Almost two million people are expected to take part in this year's pilgrimage, undeterred by a crane collapse in Makkah earlier this month that killed 109 people and injured nearly 400.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world on Tuesday began moving from the Holy City of Makkah to nearby Mina for the start of the Haj, the world's largest annual gathering.
Almost two million people are expected to take part in this year's pilgrimage, undeterred by a crane collapse in Makkah earlier this month that killed 109 people and injured nearly 400.
"It is a gift from God that He has chosen us to come here," said Walaa Ali, a 35-year-old Egyptian pilgrim with tears in her eyes. "I am so happy to be here."
Nearby, both men and women sat side by side listening to preachers explain the history and rituals of Haj.
The climax of the Haj season is on Arafat Day, which falls on Wednesday.
With the start of Haj, pilgrims enter the stage of Ihram - a state of purity in which they must not wear perfume, cut their nails, or trim their hair or beards.
The Haj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform the pilgrimage at least once in their life.
Previously marred by stampedes and fires that killed hundreds, it had been largely incident-free for the past decade after safety improvements.
But on September 11, during severe winds, a construction crane toppled into a courtyard of Holy City of Makkah's Grand Mosque.
The Saudi authorities have deployed 1,00,000 security personnel for ensuring the safety and well-being of pilgrims.
Members of an elite counterterrorism unit, traffic police and emergency civil defence personnel are among those deployed to help with crowd control and safety. They are supported by additional troops from the army and National Guard.
The Interior Ministry, which is responsible for security, has installed 5,000 CCTV cameras in this city and the holy city of Madina . The feed from these cameras is monitored round-the-clock.
"We are active, we are awake," Interior Ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Al Turki said, referring to the security forces' readiness to deal with any eventuality.
The Kingdom's military and police put on a parade in Makkah last week, with security forces jumping through burning hoops and thwarting a mock terrorist attack.
The show was aimed at deterring any would-be troublemakers.
More than 3,000 Civil Defence personnel have been deployed in Mina to oversee the safety and security of the pilgrims against any emergency hazards.