Dozens of worshippers injured in Mecca stampede

At least 18 pilgrims were injured after a stampede in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi media reported on Saturday.

This news comes as the kingdom continues reviewing safety procedures after a deadly crush during last year's hajj pilgrimage.

The worshippers were injured on Friday night in the Grand Mosque of Mecca, al-Riyadh newspaper said, as Muslims converged on the site for prayers during the Night of Power, one of the most revered nights of the fasting month of Ramadan.

The newspaper quoted a health official as saying that the injured were treated at the scene without requiring transferral to hospital.

Ramadan is one of the busiest months for Mecca, which attracts around 15 million worshippers annually.

After several fatal accidents at the grand mosque, Saudi authorities have stepped up safety measures to deal with the overwhelming number of visitors that the country's pilgrimage sites attract.

At least 2,297 pilgrims died during the stampede on September 24 during last year's hajj, according to data from foreign officials, some of whom expressed concerns about difficulty in identifying the victims. Saudi Arabia issued a death toll of 769.

Those joining this year's hajj in September will have to wear an electronic safety bracelet, newspapers reported on Friday.