Hundreds Killed in Saudi Arabia Hajj Stampede

 (FNA)- At least 1,200 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, officials in Saudi Arabia said.

The civil defense authority said on Twitter that another 2,000 people were injured in the incident at Mina, about 5km (3 miles) from Mecca.

Rescue operations were under way, it added.

The stampede occurred on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice.

This is the third incident in this year's hajj rituals.

In the first incident, a crane crash over the Grand Mosque of Mecca killed over 100 and injured hundreds more two weeks ago.

A week later, a fire incident at a Mecca hotel claimed the lives of several other pilgrims.