At least 25 killed as stampede, clashes with police break out during Egypt soccer game
At least 25 people were killed when a riot and stampede broke out ahead of a major-league soccer match in Egypt, marked by clashes between police and spectators.
At least 25 people were killed when a riot and stampede broke out during of a major-league soccer match in Egypt, marked by clashes between police and spectators.
The riot started ahead of the game between Egyptian Premier League clubs Zamalek and ENPPI at the Air Defence Stadium, east of Cairo, yesterday.
Though the exact cause of the violence was not immediately clear, security officials said Zamalek fans tried to force their way into the match without tickets, sparking clashes.
Two security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at least 25 people were killed.
Zamalek fans, known as “White Knights”, posted on their group’s official Facebook page that the violence began because authorities only opened one narrow, barbed-wire door to let them in. They said that sparked pushing and shoving that later saw police officers fire tear gas and birdshot.
A health ministry official said some of the dead had suffered broken necks. An AFP correspondent outside the morgue saw coroner reports handed out saying two of those killed died of “extreme pressure to the chest”.