9 Turkish people died in stampede in annual Hajj

Holding a press conference on Monday, Religious Affairs Deputy Director Mehmet Gormez confirmed that nine Turkish people lost their lives in Sunday’s stampede.

"We learnt that they went to the ritual of devil stoning in Mina in the early hours despite all our warnings. We revealed that three of them came to Saudi Arabia with the organization of the Directorate General of Religious Affairs, three of them were taken to Saudi Arabia by Simge Travel Agency and the remaining three stayed in Saudi Arabia following three-month Umre visit," he said.

Gormez conveyed his condolences to their relatives

He added that 12 Turkish people had still been missing.

A total of 251 people, who slipped and fell during the ritual of devil stoning in Mina city of Saudi Arabia, were trampled to death in the crush of people throwing pebbles at stone pillars symbolizing the devil.