Tragic Crowd Crush at Guinea Football Match Results in Multiple Fatalities
A crowd crush during a football match in N’zérékoré, Guinea, resulted in multiple fatalities. The incident was triggered by fan clashes and police crowd control measures following a controversial referee decision. Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah urged calm while local hospitals manage the influx of injured spectators. This event recalls Guinea’s violent history during public gatherings.
In a tragic incident at a football match held in N’zérékoré, Guinea’s second-largest city, reports indicate that dozens of individuals have lost their lives due to a crowd crush, which followed clashes among fans. The Prime Minister of Guinea, Mamadou Oury Bah, has confirmed that a stampede occurred during the event, prompting him to urge calm among the public. According to a local doctor who wished to remain anonymous, multiple bodies were already being stored in the local hospital and the morgue had reached full capacity.
Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos that ensued after a controversial decision made by the referee, which led to angry supporters of the visiting team, Labé, throwing stones onto the pitch. This action triggered a police response involving tear gas, further escalating the situation. Current reports have not yet provided official casualty figures, although video footage shared on social media depicts harrowing scenes of overwhelmed crowds, attempts to scale stadium walls, and numerous individuals lying on the ground.
Local authorities are reportedly working to restore order, as indicated by Prime Minister Bah, who noted that hospitals are attending to those injured during the incident. The match, part of a tournament honoring President Mamadi Doumbouya, was attended by thousands. This event echoes a dark chapter in Guinea’s history, wherein a similar stampede occurred in 2009, resulting in the deaths of 156 individuals during an opposition rally in Conakry. Recently, former military ruler Moussa Dadis Camara received a 20-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity related to that massacre.
The incident at the football match in Guinea underscores longstanding issues regarding crowd control and safety at public events in the country. Historical precedents, such as the 2009 stadium tragedy, reveal a troubling pattern of violence and chaos associated with political gatherings and public spectacles. The current event also highlights the volatility of fan reactions in competitive sports, particularly in environments where tensions can escalate rapidly. As the nation reflects on the events of the past, this latest tragedy raises pressing questions about governmental oversight and the protection of civilian lives during large gatherings.
In summary, the recent crush at a football match in N’zérékoré has resulted in multiple fatalities, with causes still being investigated. Prime Minister Bah’s call for calm and the actions of local authorities to address the situation signify urgent responses to a national tragedy. This incident, reminiscent of past atrocities in Guinea, calls attention to the need for improved crowd management strategies and reinforces the imperative for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding such events.
Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk
