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Football witchcraft deaths probed | Football witchcraft deaths probed |
(30 minutes later) | |
The Democratic Republic of Congo is to investigate how 13 people died in a stampede at a football game reportedly disrupted by accusations of witchcraft. | The Democratic Republic of Congo is to investigate how 13 people died in a stampede at a football game reportedly disrupted by accusations of witchcraft. |
The mostly-teenaged victims were killed as spectators rushed to exit the stadium in Butembo in eastern DR Congo. | The mostly-teenaged victims were killed as spectators rushed to exit the stadium in Butembo in eastern DR Congo. |
The BBC's Patrice Citera in DR Congo says the fighting began when the goalkeeper of one of the teams was accused of witchcraft. | |
Reports of witchcraft are commonplace in DR Congo, correspondents say. | Reports of witchcraft are commonplace in DR Congo, correspondents say. |
As elsewhere in Africa, the practice is linked to traditional animist beliefs that often co-exist with faiths such as Islam or Christianity. | As elsewhere in Africa, the practice is linked to traditional animist beliefs that often co-exist with faiths such as Islam or Christianity. |
Police chief struck | |
One eyewitness told our correspondent that the victims were trapped at the exit of the 15,000-capacity Butembo Stadium as they tried to flee during the match between Nyuki and Socozaki. | |
"It started at half-time when the keeper of Nyuki removed stuff from his jersey and threw it into the net of their opponents," the eyewitness said. | |
"Socozaki players caught him and started beating him after alleging that he had tried to throw witchcraft in their net. | |
"His Nyuki teammates intervened and a fight broke out between the two sides." | |
A police commander who intervened to stop the scuffles was then struck in the head by a projectile thrown from the stands, reports UN-backed Radio Okapi. | |
The eyewitness said the police chief had died but this has not been confirmed. | |
The police then fired into the air and used tear gas on the crowds, prompting a rush for the stadium's exits. | |
The game was a local derby - with the winner qualifying for the provincial local league of North Kivu province. | |
Dozens of teenagers in Butembo marched through the streets on Monday to protest at the deaths at Sunday's match, the Associated Press news agency reports. | Dozens of teenagers in Butembo marched through the streets on Monday to protest at the deaths at Sunday's match, the Associated Press news agency reports. |
The agency quotes regional governor Julien Mpaluku as saying the authorities would investigate the deaths. | The agency quotes regional governor Julien Mpaluku as saying the authorities would investigate the deaths. |
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