Police clashed with protesters outside the Mexico City Stadium where the opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa was played. Nearly 200 masked people are said to have caused chaos. Images on social media show people throwing objects at police. Dozens of people were arrested.
Source: ANP
LOOK. Footage shows demonstrators throwing items at police outside the World Cup stadium in Mexico
Mexico’s opening celebrations after its World Cup victory were somewhat overshadowed by violent clashes outside the Azteca Stadium just before kick-off, as ticketless fans and protesters tried to enter.
Stones and bottles were thrown at police, and local media reported dozens of arrests were made. Although Mexico City police had been dealing with protests all week from teachers, retired judges and families of the 130,000 missing in the run-up to the World Cup, the unrest at the stadium did not appear to be politically motivated. This is what the British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ writes.
A group of masked men seemed determined to get in. They threw stones and Molotov cocktails, among other things, which resulted in several police officers requiring medical attention.
“Nearly 200 masked individuals broke away from two groups of approximately 800 demonstrators, but the situation was brought under control by Mexico City police,” a spokesperson for Mexico’s Ministry of Citizen Security said.
La Jornada also has photos of a person who allegedly tried to throw a Molotov cocktail at police. That went wrong, after which his own hair caught fire.
