Saudi Crown Prince orders probe into Haj stampede

Mina - Saudi Arabia's health minister says the tragedy would not have occurred if the pilgrims "had followed instructions".

Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia ordered an investigation into the stampede at the Haj pilgrimage that left more than 700 dead on Thursday, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Crown Prince, who chairs the Saudi Haj Committee, ordered the probe during a meeting with senior officials responsible for the pilgrimage in Mina, where the stampede took place, SPA reported.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia's health minister blamed undisciplined pilgrims for the deadly stampede, saying the tragedy would not have occurred if they "had followed instructions".
Health Minister Khaled Al Falih was quoted by El Ekhbariya television as saying "many pilgrims move without respecting the timetables" established by authorities, which was the "principal reason for this type of accident."
"If the pilgrims had followed instructions, this type of accident could have been avoided."

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