http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/sep/24/hajj-crush-kills-scores-near-mecca-live-coverage
AFP has more details of the stoning the devil ritual, during which the stampede occurred:
...The ritual emulates the Prophet Abraham, who is said to have stoned the devil at three locations when he tried to dissuade Abraham from God’s order to sacrifice his son Ishmael.
At the last moment, God spares the boy, sending a sheep to be sacrificed in his place.
The world’s Muslims commemorated Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son by slaughtering cows, sheep and other animals on Thursday.
Except that WE know (as does every Christian and Jewish believer out there) that it was ISAAC, the true ‘child of promise’, not Ishmael.
Hows that new high rise stone tossing platform working out. Everyone forgets the Indian deaths. They had to install elephant rails for the political events.