Hajj 'to go ahead' after deadly crane collapse

This year's hajj pilgrimage will go ahead despite a crane collapse which killed more than 100 people at Mecca's Grand Mosque, a Saudi official told AFP on Saturday.

"It definitely will not affect the hajj this season and the affected part will probably be fixed in a few days," said the official, who declined to be named.

"Hajj will go on, for sure."

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A file picture taken on July 16, 2015 from the Abraj al-Bait Towers shows Muslim worshipers praying at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca. A massive construction crane crashed into Mecca's Grand Mosque in stormy weather on September 11, 2015, killing more than a hundred people, less than a fortnight before the hajj pilgrimage starts.AFP PHOTO / STR


At least 107 people died when the crane toppled into a courtyard of the mosque during extremely high winds on Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of faithful from around the world had already arrived for the hajj, which is expected to start on September 21.

The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and every capable Muslim is expected perform it at least once in their life.

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