At least 30 people have been killed in a stampede in a Mali stadium at the end of a sermon by a renowned imam. Interior Ministry sources said, 70 people were injured in the incident.

The stampede occurred as the crowd swarmed to get close to imam Osman Madani Haidara as he carried out blessings following a sermon in the 25,000-seat Modibo Keita stadium in Bamako, celebrating a Muslim holiday.

Source said, 27 of the victims are women who waited in the front of the crowd hoping to be touched by the religious leader and receive healing and protection.

Civil protection services quickly arrived on the scene and were backed up by emergency services from Keita, 15 kilometres from the capital. The wounded were mostly taken to the Bamako’s main hospital.