Over a dozen people were killed Sunday during a soccer match in eastern Congo after a riot broke out.
According to a U.N. funded radio station, a riot broke out over allegations that a player was using witchcraft during the match.
We can’t make this up!
Most of the victims, sadly, were just children between the ages of 11 and 16.
Unfortunately, they were suffocated as panicked crowds began to run for the exits during the chaos.
Reports are that the police tried to control the violence by then firing into the air in an attempt to protect their commander, who was hit in the head and also wounded by fans.
Craziness!!!
Afterwards, dozens of teenagers then marched through the streets in protest on Monday.
Even Julien Mpaluku, their regional governor, paid a visit to those in the hospital.
Mpaluku did confirm that the government was investigating the situation and admitted that soldiers had fired into the air in order to clam angry crownds.
The shooting then prompted the panic, which killed several people “when the crowds all tried to leave at the same time. Most of the dead were children, only two or three were adults.”
Witchcraft or not, let’s hope they get better security in the future, and better exit locations.
Chango would have never let that happen!
[Image via WENN.]