At least 174 killed after riot breaks out during a match between Arema and Persebaya Surabaya, Indonesia.
According to the report of ‘Sky Sports’, at least 174 people have been killed after a riot at a football match in Indonesia.
The violence started at a stadium in East Java during a match between Arema and Persebaya Surabaya.
Chaos broke out after Persebaya Surabaya won 3-2 – and according to local reports, thousands of Arema fans stormed the pitch after their team lost.
It is also claimed that some Arema players who were still on the field at that moment were attacked.
A riot broke out as police fired tear gas into the crowd.
The images showed people who appeared unconscious being dragged away by other fans.
In what appears to be one of the world’s worst stadium disasters, more than 300 people were rushed to nearby hospitals, but many died en route or in treatment.
The chief of police in that region, Nico Afinta, said in a press conference:
“We had already taken a preventive action before finally throwing tear gas as (fans) started attacking the police, acting anarchically and burning vehicles.”
Some of the victims suffered brain injuries – and a doctor told local media that a five-year-old was among those who had died.
A local health official said many of the victims died from “chaos, overcrowding, trampling and drowning”.
Two of those killed in the ‘Kanjuruhan’ stadium in Malang are said to be police officers.
Indonesia’s Chief of Security, Mahfud MD, has said on social media that the stadium was packed beyond capacity.
While the sports venue is only supposed to hold 38,000 people, it claimed 42,000 tickets had been issued
