Some 200 people rioted and clashed with law enforcers on Saturday night in southern Poland as a football fan died after getting wounded by a rubber bullet. A crowd had wanted to interrupt a match between two local teams prompting police response.
The city of Knurow was hosting a match between two local teams on Saturday – Concordia (Knurów) and Ruch (Radzionkow). During the game, a brawl between the fans descended into the pitch as stones and fires were pelted from the benches.
As the referee stopped the game, around 50 people invaded the stadium, according to TVN24.
Police opened fire fearing further clashes between the rival groups, police spokesman Andrzej Goose said. A rubber bullet wounded one of the fans into the neck. The 27-year-old was taken to hospital where he died several hours later.
At around 2 pm local time football fans began assembling near the hospital, reports RMF 24. This grew into clashes with law enforcers guarding the hospital entrance. Some fans had Molotov cocktails, said police spokesman Mark Slomski.Fourteen police were injured in the clashes, reports TVN24. Following the attack, the rioters dispersed. Since then several people have been detained, while police continue searching for the attackers.
