A suspect driving a car in the southern French city of Montpellier “slugged” and killed a teenager as crowds celebrated France’s victory in the World Cup semi-final, local authorities said on Thursday.
The vehicle was found nearby, but the driver escaped. Police are trying to locate the suspect and have opened an investigation into the precise circumstances of the crash, according to the Montpellier prosecutor’s office.
A video has surfaced on Twitter showing a car driving perilously close to crowds on the street following the French national team’s win against Morocco on Wednesday night.
The 14-year-old, whose name has not been made public, was rushed to hospital and died of his injuries, authorities said.
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French MP Nathalie Oziol expressed her “immense sadness (that a) sporting event ends in absolute tragedy”.
French fans celebrate a victory in the Qatar 2022 World Cup quarter-final soccer match between Morocco and France in a Montpellier bar. Later that evening, during the festivities, a teenager was hit and killed by a car. Police found the car, but the suspect fled the scene.
(Ameer Alhalbi/Anadolu agency via Getty Images)
Elsewhere in France, crowds in Paris and other cities erupted in cheers of joy as France – which has a large Moroccan community – advanced to the World Cup final. The displays were relatively small. Disappointed Moroccan fans mingled with exuberant supporters of the winning team, paying tribute to the African country’s unprecedented achievement.
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In the capital of neighboring Belgium, which also has a sizable Moroccan community, around 100 people were arrested on Wednesday after football fans fired fireworks at police and damaged cars in central Brussels, the spokesman said. Police Officer Ilse Van de Keere.
