At least 15 dead in fan stampede at Congo soccer stadium

A stampede at a soccer stadium in Congo's capital killed at least 15 people after angry fans threw rocks from the stands, prompting security officers to fire tear gas that caused crowds to flee in panic, government officials and witnesses said Monday.

The stampede at the Tata Raphael Stadium in Kinshasa happened toward the end of a match Sunday between popular teams AS Vita Club and TP Mazembe.

At least 21 others were injured during the melee, said Gov. Andre Kimbuta, who has set up a commission to investigate the incident.

Congolese government spokesman Lambert Mende on Monday defended the actions of the security officers.

"It is false to say that the violence was started by the tear gas, which was used to protect people being threatened by elements in the stands who were acting like militiamen," he said.

Three of the injured remained in the hospital, Mende said.

Spectator Kanga Yves said the crowds were trampled as they tried to flee the tear gas, and that he had seen at least eight bodies.

Witnesses said angry fans threw objects onto the field including rocks late in the match on the last day of the league season. The home team, AS Vita, was losing 1-0.

The stampede caused a recently restored wall and gate to collapse, the Confederation of African Football said in a statement.

More than 20 people were killed on April 25 in the town of Kikwit in southwest Congo when generators failed during a festival honoring a popular singer, plunging the stadium into darkness and causing a stampede.

Sunday’s Kinshasa stadium stampede also came days after Ghana marked the anniversary of Africa’s worst football disaster. Over 120 people were killed on May 9, 2001 when police fired tear gas at a stadium in the Ghanaian capital Accra because of crowd trouble at a game, also causing a stampede in the stands.

Most recently, more than 70 people died in a riot at a football game in the Egyptian city of Port Said in February 2012. The riot was linked to political violence in Egypt following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak as president.

Tuesday 13 May 2014

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/soccer/stampede-kills-15-in-congo/2179490

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/05/12/at-least-15-dead-in-fan-stampede-at-congo-soccer-stadium/