World Cup celebrations in the French city of Montpellier ended in tragedy after a driver struck and killed a 14-year-old boy before fleeing the scene.
NBC reports that the teenage boy was ‘violently hit’ as crowds celebrated France’s victory over Morocco in the World Cup semi-final.
Police reports say the driver fled the scene with the vehicle later found nearby abandoned.
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Montpellier's prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into the precise circumstances.
FoxSports reports that video emerged on social media showing the white hatchback surrounded by fans before speeding away when someone tears down a flag hanging from the rear window.
The tragedy marred France’s victory which sees them reach the tournament finals for the second time in as many World Cups.
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Montpellier city authorities published a statement from the boy’s family.
They said: “Aymen’s death has plunged us into a terrifying ordeal.
“We call for complete calm and express our confidence in the police and judiciary.”
The accident reportedly occurred in the Paillade district, one of the poorer areas of the Southern French city.
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Mayor Michael Delafosse tweeted that he hoped ‘the people who carried out this awful act are found and put on trial’, according to FoxSports.
Local MP Nathalie Oziol also expressed ‘immense sadness, a sporting event ends in absolute tragedy’.
Around 10,000 police were said to have been deployed across France for the match due to the possible tensions between Moroccan and French fans.
Reportedly 100 arrests were made in around Paris before 1 am following the game, with dozens of others detained in cities including Lyon and Avignon.
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Moroccan football fans were involved in chaotic scenes earlier in the World Cup after Belgian police were forced to use water cannons and teargas.
Police made 11 arrests after coming under attack in Brussels following Belgium’s shock 2-0 World Cup loss to the North African country.
A Brussels police statement claimed that ‘dozens of people, including some wearing hoodies, sought confrontation with the police, which compromised public safety’.
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The report claims that fans were armed with sticks and a journalist was injured by fireworks.
Footage of the incidents claim that Morocco football fans were the main contributor to the violence in Brussels.
Different videos show fans setting off fireworks, vandalising streets, and burning and smashing cars.
The report says that around a hundred police officers were on the scene with residents asked to avoid certain areas of the city centre.
Topics: France, Football, Football World Cup
Jayden Collins