Crane crashes down into Mecca’s Grand Mosque — in pictures

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  Pilgrims and first responders gather at the site of a crane collapse that killed dozens inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on September 11, 2015. AP Photo

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  The Saudi Civil Defence reported continually rising casualty figures, when a crane collapsed onto Mecca’s Grand Mosque during a storm, as it conducted a rescue operation at the world’s largest mosque, which surrounds the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site. Saudi Press Agency / EPA

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  Saudi emergency teams gather at the site of accident in the Grand Mosque of Saudi Arabia’s holy Muslim city of Mecca on September 12, 2015, after a construction crane crashed into it. A massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque in stormy weather on, killing at least 107 people and injuring 238, Saudi authorities said, days before the annual Haj pilgrimage. AFP photo

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  Members of a Saudi emergency crew stand near damage caused by a collapsed crane at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia September 11, 2015. Reuters

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  A towering construction crane, centre, is seen collapsed over the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, early Saturday morning, September 12, 2015. AP Photo

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  The towering construction crane toppled over on Friday during a violent rainstorm in the Saudi city of Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, crashing into the Grand Mosque, ahead of the start of the annual Haj pilgrimage later this month. AP Photo

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  Civil Defense personnel inspect the damage at the Grand Mosque after a crane collapsed, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, early Saturday morning, September 12, 2015. AP Photo

The crane accident happened as pilgrims from around the world converged onto Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, for the annual Haj pilgrimage, which takes place this month, killing dozens. The civil defence authority announced the collapse and a series of rising casualty numbers on its official Twitter account.