Many Italians among victims
NZPA-Reuter Brussels At least 41 people were killed and more than 350 were injured yesterday when a wall collapsed under a stampede by rioting English supporters who stormed a section of a soccer stadium occupied by rival Italian supporters. Many of the dead were Italians, and one report said at least two of the bodies had stab wounds. Others were trampled to death when a concrete barrier collapsed under the weight of fans trying to escape the rampaging Britons. The tragedy occurred at Heysel stadium in Brussels before the start of the European Cup championship soccer match between Liverpool, of England, and the Italian champion, Juventus, of Turin.
The president of the Belgian Football Union, Mr
Louis Wouters, said that at least two of the dead bore stab wounds and that many of the injured also had been stabbed. The police and onlookers said that among the weapons used were knives, railings, sharpened flagpoles, and rivets. According to the police at the Brussels stadium, of the dead who had been identified so far, 33 were Italians, two were French, and one Belgian. A police spokesman said the barrier collapsed about 20 minutes after rioting broke out in the stadium, which had a capacity crowd of 58,000 people. Hundreds of fans, many of them drunk, invaded the field, throwing bottles, cans, and firecrackers at the police. Others fought pitched battles in the stands, he said.
Club-wielding riot police
flailed away at the fans, but were unable to stop the rioting. The police were hopelessly outnumbered and were retreating before the Liverpool fans when scores charged across the stands to the Z section, where the Italians were concentrated. The barrier separating the two groups collapsed and panic ensued. Bodies were crushed underfoot and lay motionless on the stands. Red Cross officials said that nearly 150 of the injured were in a serious condition and another 200 were being treated for minor wounds. Further report, pictures, page 6
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Press, 31 May 1985, Page 1
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329Many Italians among victims Press, 31 May 1985, Page 1
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