Stampede at Umayyad Mosque in Damascus: Witnesses Blame Social Media Influencer for Free Meal Distribution

damascus - The stampede that led to the deaths of 5 people at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus was caused by a free meal distribution, according to witnesses.

Witnesses at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus have revealed that the recent stampede, resulting in the deaths of 5 individuals, was triggered by a social media influencer distributing free meals. One witness, Ali Hasan, mentioned that the crowd was intense due to a meal distribution on Friday, resulting in people dying while trying to enter the mosque for Friday prayers. Another witness, Abdullah Nana, criticized the combination of Friday prayers and the meal invitation, stating that it caused chaos as attendees mixed and a large crowd formed. In response to the disorganized meal distribution, witness Ali Bakranlı highlighted the tragic outcome of the stampede, emphasizing that the lack of coordination led to casualties.

In the aftermath of the stampede, Dr. Mohammed Akram Maatouk, the Health Director of Damascus, confirmed that 5 individuals lost their lives, with 16 others sustaining injuries. Videos circulating on social media showed citizens providing initial aid to the wounded inside the mosque. Governor Mahir Mervan acknowledged the unfortunate incident at the Umayyad Mosque's civil event and stressed that necessary measures would be taken to prevent such incidents in public areas in the future.