Mali group criticizes Saudi Arabia’s response to hajj disaster

BAMAKO, Mali — A group of Malian families who lost loved ones in the Saudi Arabia hajj disaster in September is criticizing the kingdom’s response to the crush and stampede that killed at least 2,426 people.

A lawyer for the group, Marcel Ceccaldi, spoke to journalists on Tuesday in Bamako, the capital of the West African nation. He also criticized the response by the government of Mali, which had 320 of its pilgrims killed in the Sept. 24 disaster at Mina.

Ceccaldi said the group was considering filing complaints against Saudi Arabia in Mali and with the European Union.

The Associated Press’ count of casualties is based on state media reports and officials’ comments from 36 of the over 180 countries that sent citizens to the hajj. The kingdom’s official toll is 769 killed.

READ: Saudi Arabia hajj disaster death toll at least 2,177