Africa

Egypt Cairo football clashes leave at least 22 dead

Clashes between football fans and security forces in the Egyptian capital Cairo have left at least 22 people dead, prosecutors say.

Fans of the Zamalek football club tried to force their way into a match without tickets, sparking the clashes, officials said.

The violence broke out ahead of a premier league game against ENPPI.

In February 2012, more than 70 people were killed in post-match violence after a game in Port Said.

On Sunday, police used tear gas to disperse the fans at the Air Defense Stadium in Cairo, with at least 20 injured, witnesses said.

It is not clear what was behind the deaths, but some witnesses say people were suffocated during a stampede.

Despite the violence, the match went ahead.
An Egyptian Zamalek soccer club fan wearing a Guy Fawkes mask near a burning police car outside a sports stadium in Cairo”s northeast district Fans used fireworks to set vehicles on fire after the clashes
Policemen and soccer fans argue as fans attempt to enter a stadium to watch a match, on the outskirts of Cairo Fans argued with security members as they tried to enter the stadium
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At the scene: Orla Guerin, BBC News

Inside the stadium there were piles of shoes left behind by the dead and the wounded. Zamalek fans claim the violence began when the authorities only opened one barbed wire gate to let them in.

Two witnesses told us a fence had collapsed as crowds tried to enter the stadium, causing a stampede.

“Suddenly the security forces started firing tear gas and birdshot all over the place,” one said.

“After that people started piling on top of each other,” another young man told us through tears.
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Policemen and soccer fans argue as fans attempt to enter a stadium to watch a match, on the outskirts of Cairo Zamalek fans allege they were only allowed in through one barbed wire gate

Hard-core Egyptian football fans are often deeply politicised, and played a role in the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

Many people believe police in Port Said stood by in revenge for the fans’ role in anti-Mubarak unrest. Police deny the accusation.

Recently lifted restrictions on the numbers attending football matches, imposed after the deaths at Port Said, will now be re-imposed.

Egypt’s public prosecutor has ordered an investigation into the Cairo clashes.

Source: BBC

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Henry Cobblah

Henry Cobblah is a Tech Developer, Entrepreneur, and a Journalist. With over 15 Years of experience in the digital media industry, he writes for over 7 media agencies and shows up for TV and Radio discussions on Technology, Sports and Startup Discussions.

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