13 September 2015

Mecca crane collapse: Deadly accident at Grand Mosque 'a blessing in disguise for those killed'

The collapse of a crane at the Grand Mosque in Mecca was not a disaster but “a blessing in disguise” for the 107 people killed, according to a British Muslim leader.

A father-of-four from Bolton was among those killed when a crane operated by the Saudi government crashed into the mosque on Friday ahead of the start of the annual hajj pilgrimage.

Dr Hojjat Ramzy, an imam and director of the Oxford Islamic Information Centre, said he was “very saddened” to hear about the deaths and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

“But in the same breath, I would like to congratulate those people who lost their lives for going straight to heaven without any question,” he said. [The Independent] Read more