Prosecutors have ordered 75 people to stand trial for causing Egypt’s worst soccer stadium disaster, including the security head in Port Said city where lax policing was blamed for a stampede that killed at least 74.
The crush on February 1st followed a pitch invasion when Port Said’s al-Masry beat Cairo’s Al Ahli, the most successful club in Africa. Steel doors at the stadium were bolted shut, trapping fans trying to escape from the stands and dozens were crushed to death, witnesses said.
Many fans blamed the government for a failure to send enough police to the stadium given the tense build-up to the match, and many believe the violence was sparked by hired thugs. At least 1,000 people were injured.
State television said nine of the 75 people to stand trial were police officers. Two were minors who would be tried in a juvenile court. – (Reuters)