Ten supporters were removed from the Ilves–Pelicans match. Lighting a smoke indoors is a crime.
The police of Sisä-Suomen recorded several explosive crimes from Saturday’s SC league match between Ilves and Pelicans.
Smoke bombs were used in Tampere’s Nokia Arena, the Pelicans’ supporters’ end, just before the start of the match. Turquoise smoke filled the whole end.
– There were no arrests, but we recorded a few explosive crimes. Lighting a torch or smoke in the stands is an explosive offense, inspector Ari Aro tells.
– There were four people. There were two smokes and two strobes.
According to Aro, the persons in question were Pelicans supporters.
– The identity of some torchbearers is known to the police. They will be questioned later. It is very dangerous to burn torches inside and in a cramped grandstand.
Smoke billowed in the Pelicans’ supporter’s end. Reader’s photo
Several busloads of people from Lahti had arrived for the fourth semi-final match. A total of ten Pelicans supporters were removed from the arena.
It is not known how the torches were smuggled into the grandstand.
– The organizers do a security check, but people are quite good at smuggling. The same thing happens in football games.
Apart from the smoke, there were no other disturbances. Smoke bombs are rare in hockey games.
– Tappara played CHL at the Nokia Arena in the fall. Then supporters of a central European team burned torches.
Explosive offenses are punishable by a fine or imprisonment for a maximum of two years.
“Outrageous”
The police of Inner Finland registered several explosive crimes. Tuuli Syrjälä
Iltalehti interviewed a spectator who was present at the Nokia Arena earlier on Saturday. He sat near the fans from Lahti and saw when the smoke bombs were launched just before the start of the match.
– Smoke rose up, nothing could be seen from the upper stand for a while. Gunpowder smelled! the viewer said.
– As a Tampere resident, I think it’s pretty outrageous.
Ilves security manager Brother Valkamaa did not respond to IL’s contacts.
Ilves won the match 3–2 and tied the wins in the semifinal series to 2–2. Advances to the final with four wins.
The organizers removed the spectators from the stands. Riku Isokoski