At least 127 people were killed Saturday night at an Indonesian stadium after angry fans stormed the pitch and police responded with tear gas, sparking a stampede, authorities said.
“In the incident, 127 people were killed, including two policemen. 34 people died inside the stadium and the rest in hospital,” East Java province police chief Nico Afinta said in a statement on Sunday.
Arema FC supporters stormed the pitch at Karnjurhan Stadium in the eastern city of Malang after their team lost 3-2 to Persebaya Surabaya, the first loss to their arch-rivals in more than two decades.
Police tried to persuade fans to return to the stands and fired tear gas after two police officers were killed. Many of the victims were trampled to death.
???????? | URGENT: At least 127 people killed and 180 injured in riots at soccer match between Arena FC and Persebaya Surabaya in Kanjuruhan, Indonesia, police say. pic.twitter.com/zE15cMczIw
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Afinta pointed out that the fans “at one point went to the exit. There was a congestion and in the process of accumulation they ran out of air.”
The Indonesian government apologized for the incident and promised to investigate the circumstances of the stampede.
“We regret this incident (…) It is a regrettable incident that ‘injures’ our football at a time when fans can go to the stadium to watch football matches,” Indonesian Minister of Sport and Youth Zainudin Amali told reporters. the Kompas network.
“We rigorously evaluate the organization of the match and the presence of fans. Will we again ban the presence of fans in matches? That is what we will discuss,” he added.