Riots follow death of speedway fan
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
03.10.2011 10:32
Riots broke out in Zielona Gora, western Poland, in the early hours of Monday morning, after an unmarked police car ran over a young man following a speedway league match.
photo - TVP
Tear gas and water cannons were employed in an attempt to defuse the violence. Anti-terrorist police were also called in, surrounding the area of the accident.
Several officers were badly beaten and windows in the local police station were smashed. Elsewhere in the city shop windows were broken and a petrol station was vandalised.
A number of fans were arrested.
The death of the fan occurred following the overall season victory of local motorcycling team Falubaz in the top division of the national speedway league (Ekstraliga Speedway).
According to witnesses, shortly after two in the morning local time, a man ran out into the road in the centre of the city and was struck by the unmarked police car.
The policemen called an ambulance immediately, but the victim was already beyond help.
According to Poland’s public television station TVP, some witnesses have said that the car was driving too fast.
Immediately after the incident, fans grouped together and started attacking the police.
The city is now calm again, but police are on standby in case of further disturbances. (nh/pg)