On 1 December 2024, a stampede and crowd crush occured at the Stade du 3 Avril, a football stadium in the Guinean city of Nzérékoré, resulting in at least 56 deaths.[1]
| Date | 1 December 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location |  Nzérékoré, Guinea |
| Cause | Tear gas launched by police amid fight between rival football fans |
| Deaths | 56 |
| Non-fatal injuries | Unknown |
Events
editOn 1 December 2024, a football match between Nzérékoré and Labe[2] was held at the Stade du 3 Avril[3] as part of a tournament organised in honour of the country's president, Mamady Doumbouya. The tournament had been criticised by opposition groups as an attempt to advance Doumbouya’s “illegal and inappropriate candidacy” in upcoming presidential elections.[1] Between 20,000 and 30,000 spectators were in attendance.[4]
In the 82nd minute of the match, a referee gave a red card to a member of the Nzérékoré team, leading to a penalty.[3] Fans of the visiting team, Labe, swarmed the field in protest of the referee's decision and threw stones.[3] According to local media, security personnel then used tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd.[3][4][5] Spectators began to flee the stadium, leading to a stampede and a crowd crush in and around the gates to the stadium, where many of the casualties occured.[3][4] Children were reportedly among those killed.[4]
Aftermath
editFollowing the incident, demonstrators set fire to the police station of Nzérékoré.[1] Internet access to the region was restricted. Prime minister Bah Oury announced an investigation into the disaster and expressed condolences to families of the victims. The Guinean Football Federation also expressed condolences. The opposition National Alliance for Change and Democracy attributed "significant responsibility for these grave events" to authorities.[2]
On 2 December, checkpoints were set up throughout the city and most stores were closed. Soldiers were posted at the hospital where the injured were being treated.[4]
Three days of mourning are to be held, beginning on 3 December.[4]
See also
edit
- List of human stampedes and crushes:
- Hillsborough disaster – a similar disaster at a football game in the United Kingdom in 1989 due to police failings rather than supporters' behavior.
- Port Said Stadium riot – a similar disaster in Egypt in 2012 that involved the use of tear gas toward rioting supporters.
- Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster - a similiar disaster in Indonesia in which rioting football fans were tear gassed by police.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Dozens dead after stampede breaks out at Guinea football match". Al Jazeera. 2 December 2024.
- ^ a b "Dozens killed in crush at Guinea football match". BBC. 2 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Egbejule, Eromo (2024-12-02). "At least 56 people killed in crush at Guinea football stadium". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ a b c d e f "Panic among spectators at soccer game kills at least 56 in the West African nation of Guinea". AP News. 2024-12-02. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
- ^ Maroosha, Muzaffar (2 December 2024). "Dozens crushed to death in stampede at Guinea football match as pitch invasion ends in tragedy". The Independent. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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