More than 50 people were arrested in Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, in various incidents during the celebrations of Morocco’s historic qualification to the semifinals of a soccer World Cup, by beating Portugal.
Morocco’s 1-0 triumph in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Qatar was celebrated by some 20,000 people on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, where several incidents occurred that resulted in the arrest of 42 people, according to the latest police report. .
The security forces mobilized a strong force, with 1,220 officers for the area, ahead of the two quarter-final matches, in the other of which France beat England 2-1.
The initial celebrations generated some disturbances, such as the burning of two motorcycles in the streets surrounding the Champs-Élysées, one of the main avenues of the French capital.
Also on Saturday, Belgian police detained a dozen people in the capital, Brussels, following riots that broke out after Morocco’s victory over Portugal.
A few dozen hooded youths threw projectiles at the police, who responded with tear gas, police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere told Le Soir, who confirmed, however, that “there was no significant damage.”
Despite the initial festive atmosphere in the streets of the Belgian capital, with hundreds of supporters of Morocco, the police presence was strong in the city center to prevent incidents, with some metro entrances closed and bus lines diverted in prevention.
After the riots registered in the week, after the victory of Morocco against Belgium, some residents promoted an initiative through social networks to create a human chain and distance supporters with violent behavior from police units and prevent them from destroying furniture urban, indicated public television. RTBF.
One of the organizers of the human chain told the channel that he did not want the Moroccan community in Brussels to be associated with “the violence of a small minority”.
In the country’s main cities, supporters also took to the streets to celebrate Morocco’s victory under some “tension” and a heavy police presence.
There were riots in several places in Amsterdam, according to the police, who at around 8:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. in Lisbon) issued an emergency order to evacuate several streets and ended up firing a water cannon and making several arrests, the US advanced. public television.
In Rotterdam, access to the center was cut off due to overcrowding, according to the channel, which mentioned the launching of fireworks, but without disturbances.
In The Hague, supporters hurled fireworks at police, who ordered some streets to be evacuated.
Morocco has become the first African team to reach the semifinals of a men’s soccer World Cup, where they will face France, current champions.
Source: TSF
