Muslim pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as hajj nears end in Saudi Arabia

Pilgrims were performing the last major ritual of the hajj — the “stoning of the devil” — on Friday, as Muslims around the globe celebrated the beginning of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

From before day break, the 1.6 million-plus pilgrims began throwing seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, on the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca.

Droves of pilgrims had already set out from their accommodation in the sprawling tent city in Mina before dawn,…