Security Boosted for Annual Hajj Pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia says it is ready to play host to more than 2 million pilgrims for this year’s hajj after tightening security in an effort to ensure the annual Muslim rite passes without incident.

Authorities want to thwart possible attacks by Al Qaeda, political protests by pilgrims, and stampedes of the kind that killed about 250 people last year.

Speaking after a parade of special civil and military defense forces during a tour of the holy sites ahead of the pilgrimage, which begins Tuesday, Interior Minister Prince Nayef ibn Abdulaziz said there was extra security this year. A spokesman said there were 50,000 police in the wider Mecca region, including a record 7,000 special forces.