Dozens killed at stampede in Israel during religious celebration

At least 45 people were killed last night when a stampede broke out in a religious mass gathering in the north of Israel. More than 150 people were injured, with some of them in critical condition, including minors.

The incident took place during the Mount Meron religious bonfire-lighting ceremony for the holiday of Lag Ba’Omer. A preliminary investigation by police revealed that some people slipped on the large staircase outside the tomb of sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, where the main celebration took place. This in turn caused panic. More people fell, crushing beneath them others. Most of the dead were said to be from the Jerusalem Toldot Aharon Hassidic sect.

Shortly after the incident, a field hospital was set up at the scene. Some 250 ambulances and six army helicopters were dispatched during the night to Mount Meron, to evacuate the dead and the injured. It was only by 3 a.m. that the evacuation of injured was completed. At the same time, hundreds of buses were sent to the site, to evacuate the worshippers. Authorities estimate that more than 100,000 people attended the festivities.

This morning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene, accompanied by senior police officers. Worshippers still at place booed Netanyahu, shouting angrily at him. In a video posted on social media, Netanyahu called for May 2 to be a national day of mourning for the victims.