By Chris King • Updated: 15 Dec 2022 • 2:13
14-year-old Morocco fan killed in Montpellier after car with French flag runs over him
The authorities in the French city of Montpellier confirmed this morning, Thursday, December 15, that a Morocco football fan was killed after a car ran over him.
A statement was released by Hugues Moutouh, on behalf of the Prefect of Herault. It did not mention the age of the deceased but local online reports claimed he was 14 years old.
It translates as: “A young boy was violently hit this Wednesday evening in Montpellier by a driver after the semi-final match of the football World Cup. He was transferred to the hospital in absolute emergency, where he died shortly after medical treatment. My thoughts are with his family and friends”.
“The vehicle was found near the scene of the accident and placed in a pound. A police investigation is progressing rapidly under the direction of the prosecutor’s office”.
📣 Communiqué du préfet de l’#Hérault Hugues Moutouh ⤵️#Montpellier pic.twitter.com/Sc7L0jeNs7 — Préfet de l'Hérault 🇫🇷 (@Prefet34) December 14, 2022
📣 Communiqué du préfet de l’#Hérault Hugues Moutouh ⤵️#Montpellier pic.twitter.com/Sc7L0jeNs7
— Préfet de l'Hérault 🇫🇷 (@Prefet34) December 14, 2022
Video footage posted on social media captured the moment a driver clearly panicked after he became surrounded by a crowd of Moroccan fans who attempted to steal a French flag that was sticking out of the back window of his vehicle.
Online reports said that violence had broken out in Montpellier with football fans throwing fireworks at police officers who had been deployed in the city. Street furniture was also thrown, along with rocks, with fires being lit in the streets. The police responded with rubber bullets, stun grenades and tear gas.
🚨A car with French fans has reportedly driven over Moroccan fan in the city of #Montpellier, #Fance, critically inuring one person, after felling threatened by the group of Moroccan fan trying to steal his flag and pounding on the car. -Correction pic.twitter.com/7rNXQ77CGm — Breaking News 24/7 (@Worldsource24) December 14, 2022
🚨A car with French fans has reportedly driven over Moroccan fan in the city of #Montpellier, #Fance, critically inuring one person, after felling threatened by the group of Moroccan fan trying to steal his flag and pounding on the car. -Correction pic.twitter.com/7rNXQ77CGm
— Breaking News 24/7 (@Worldsource24) December 14, 2022
#Update: Just in – Other video footage from another angle showing you the Moroccan fans trying to steal the French flag of the car and pounding on it, when then speeding and turning away driving over the group of Moroccan fans after feeling threatened in #Montpellier, #Fance. pic.twitter.com/G750JUT2N3 — Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 14, 2022
#Update: Just in – Other video footage from another angle showing you the Moroccan fans trying to steal the French flag of the car and pounding on it, when then speeding and turning away driving over the group of Moroccan fans after feeling threatened in #Montpellier, #Fance. pic.twitter.com/G750JUT2N3
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) December 14, 2022
Football fans had taken to the streets following the 2022 Qatar World Cup semi-final that was played on Wednesday 14, in which France beat Morocco 2-0. Violence involving Moroccan fans had erupted in various parts of Europe after previous matches in the tournament, but there had been no serious incidents.
⚡️ After the semi-final match of the World Cup in Qatar, in which the French team defeated the Moroccan team with a score of 2: 0, clashes broke out between the fans of the two national teams in Montpellier, France. 👉 @Flash_news_ua pic.twitter.com/6S2kNvkPY9 — FLASH (@Flash_news_ua) December 14, 2022
⚡️ After the semi-final match of the World Cup in Qatar, in which the French team defeated the Moroccan team with a score of 2: 0, clashes broke out between the fans of the two national teams in Montpellier, France.
👉 @Flash_news_ua pic.twitter.com/6S2kNvkPY9
— FLASH (@Flash_news_ua) December 14, 2022
___________________________________________________________
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Share this story
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox!
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don't already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com
By signing up, you will create a Euro Weekly News account if you don’t already have one. Review our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish.