Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Egyptian state TV says more than 70 people are dead after fans of rival soccer teams rushed the field in Port Said, hurling stones and sticks at each other and sparking a stampede.
Egypt’s health ministry says 1,000 other people were injured in Wednesday’s melee.
A medical official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to release the information, says some of the dead were security officers.
Egypt’s state prosecutor has ordered an immediate investigation into the causes of the deaths.
Witnesses say most appeared to have occurred in a stampede after fans of the home team, Al-Masry, stormed the field following a rare 3-1 win against Al-Ahly, Egypt’s top team. They then chased players and fans from the rival team.
A soccer game at Cairo Stadium between the Al-Ismailiya and Zamalek teams was called off in mourning for the violence in Port Said.
State TV showed video of sections of the Cairo stadium on fire. The announcer said angry fans of the Zamalek protested the cancellation and set some sections of the stadium on fire.
–ESPN
