2017 Turin stampede
 Location of Turin in Italy | |
| Date | 3 June 2017 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:30 p.m. |
| Location | Turin, Italy |
| Cause | Robbery attempt and a loud bang |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 1,526 |
The 2017 Turin stampede occurred on 3 June 2017 when panic emerged in the Piazza San Carlo after a robbery attempt during a screening of the UEFA Champions League Final in Turin, Italy between Torinese club Juventus and Real Madrid. Two women died, and at least 1,526 people were injured.
Stampede
The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time, about 10 minutes before the end of the match, when panic erupted among those at Piazza San Carlo, leading to a stampede. During the panic, a railing of stairs leading to an underground parking garage gave way, causing additional injuries.
Although the panic was initially thought to be caused by the noise of firecrackers, it was later determined to be caused by a robbery attempt of shooting pepper spray into the crowd to steal valuables among the public,[1] and someone shouting that a bomb had gone off may have fueled the panic.[2]
After the stampede and a subsequent evacuation, the square was left strewn with sneakers which were ripped off people's feet as they ran.[2]
Casualties
At least 1,527 people were injured, including seven who were seriously injured.[3][4] On 15 June, less than two weeks after the stampede, a 38-year-old woman, Erika Pioletti, died in hospital of her sustained injuries, while another woman, Marisa Amato, became tetraplegic and eventually died in hospital on 25 January 2019.[5][6][7][8]
Reactions and investigations
Some older Juventus fans said the stampede had evoked painful memories of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, when 39 fans, mostly Juventus supporters from Italy, were crushed against a collapsing wall in Brussels, Belgium, before the start of the 1985 European Cup Final between Juventus and Liverpool.[2]
In November 2017, the Prosecutor Office of Turin started a formal investigation involving around twenty suspects, included the mayor Chiara Appendino and the police chief Angelo Sanna.[9]
On 13 April 2018, eight people were arrested on charges of triggering mass panic to commit a robbery using pepper spray. One of them confessed the crime. The suspects were identified by telephone interceptions, in one of which a gold necklace stolen in the event was mentioned.[10]
References
- ^ "Eight arrested for sparking deadly Turin football stampede". The Local. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
- ^ a b c "200 injured in Juventus fan panic after bomb scare: police". Yahoo Sports. Turin. Agence France-Presse. June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- ^ "Panic erupts during Champions League viewing in Italy, injuring 1,500". BNO News. June 4, 2017.
- ^ Di Marco, Alessandro (June 4, 2017). "Champions, panico a Torino, 1.527 feriti, tre sono gravi". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (in Italian). Retrieved June 4, 2017.
- ^ "Morta la donna travolta in piazza San Carlo". La Stampa (in Italian). Torino. June 15, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
- ^ "Torino, il 5 mille per aiutare nonna Marisa paralizzata dalla folla di piazza San Carlo" (in Italian). repubblica.it. 25 April 2018.
- ^ "Morta donna ferita in piazza San Carlo - Ultima Ora" (in Italian). Agenzia ANSA. 25 January 2019.
- ^ "Torino, muore la donna rimasta tetraplegica travolta dalla folla in piazza San Carlo. La figlia: "E' stata dura"" (in Italian). repubblica.it. 25 January 2019.
- ^ Numa, Massimo; Rossi, Andrea (November 7, 2017). "Disastro colposo. Venti indagati per piazza San Carlo". La Stampa (in Italian). Torino. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
- ^ Redazione (April 13, 2018). "Eight arrested for causing Turin soccer stampede". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata. Retrieved April 15, 2018.