Turin (Italy): At least 1,000 people were injured Saturday, seven seriously, after a bomb scare triggered a stampede among Juventus fans watching the Champions League final here, local authorities said Sunday. Several thousand fans had turned up to watch the match on a giant screen erected by local authorities at the Piazza San Carlo here.
This agency’s reporters witnessed the chaotic scenes that ensued in a packed square 10 minutes before the end of the match. The panic seemed to have been triggered by fireworks being let off and one or more people shouting that a bomb had exploded – a notion that quickly filtered through the crowd.
The incident compounded a miserable night for supporters of Juventus, who lost the Cardiff final 1-4 to Real Madrid.
It also underlined the impact recent acts of terror are having on a jittery public across Europe and the problems now faced by organisers of any mass gathering of people following the Bataclan, Paris and Manchester concert attacks.
Most of the injured in Turin were treated for cuts and bruises but seven had to be admitted to emergency units at local hospitals.
Local media reported that a seven-year-old boy was in a coma with severe chest injuries after being trampled in the crush.
“We heard a noise, then there was a movement of people like a wave and everyone started falling over each other,” said Luca, one of the fans caught up in the drama. “I have got blood on me from the people who fell on top of me, people were screaming, jumping over each other. It was really awful – really thought it was Manchester again.”
AFP
