Hundreds die in Iraqi stampede

[ScAvenger001]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4199618.stm

In short, a large religious procession was spooked by someone shouting about a suicide bomber (and apparently some mortar rounds, though the official statement seems to treat those as incidental) and the ensuing stampede killed more than 600 people.

[Lord Kelvin]

I thought that they said that the mortar rounds had hit where they were going, but I can't find on CNN where it says that (I think I read that, at least). And now the toll's over 800.

I guess this is one of those things that whats-his-face meant by "shouting 'fire' in a crowded theater" or something, although in this case it seems that someone actually did think that, metaphorically, there was a fire in the theater. But it sounds a bit too coincidental to me, for someone to shout it just as they're on the bridge.

[Stig]

At 970 now. That's ridiculous.

[Modest Genius]

mortars hit the mosque they were heading for, long before the stampede.

the huge death toll is, as far as i can tell, mostly due to the fact that people justed off a bridge over the Euphrates to get out of the crush, only to discover a very shallow set of concrete steps extending into it about 100 yards

still, the whole thing seems a bit surreal. shows how worked up everyone in that country must be.

[GoatChomper]

It's nothing new.....over 400 people died in a stampede at Mecca during the Hajj in 1987 when Iranian Revolutionary Guards triggered one.

[BlindSite]

Stupidity at its highest level. What a damn shame.

[BattleWhack]

That's tragic, just horrible.

[HodgeMASHEEN MkIII]

I wonder if the stampede was intentionally instigated... and mass casulaties was the goal

[GrosPoisson]

Yeah, I wouldn't put it past the insurgents to pull something like that, given their track record.

[-V-]

Quite sad, really. :(