2015 Knurów riots explained

2015 Knurów riots
Partof:Police brutality against football fans in Poland
Date:2 May 2015-7 May 2015
Place:Knurów, Poland
Causes:killing of Dawid Dziedzic by police, a fan at an association football Concordia Knurów versus Ruch Radzionków match held in Knurów, Poland
Goals:Bring to justice the perpetrators of the killing, end police brutality and persecution against football fans
Methods:Protest, vandalism, chanting, rioting
Status:dormant, unresolved
Result:formal investigation commenced
Side1:Football fans
Side2:Police
Howmany1:200
Howmany2:undetermined
Fatalities:0
Injuries:Multiple
Arrests:46
Killing of Dawid Dziedzic
Partof:Police brutality against football fans in Poland
Location:Municipal Stadium, Knurów, Poland
Target:Fans of Ruch Radzionków and Concordia Knurów
Date:2 May 2015
Timezone:GMT+1
Fatalities:1
Injuries:multiple
Victims:David Dziecic
Perpetrators:unnamed members of the Polish police force
Assailants:Polish police force
Weapons:Rubber bullet guns
Numpart:-->
Dfen:-->
Motive:Combating football hooliganism
Inquiry:Ministry of Internal Affairs, Regional Public prosecutor's office (Gliwice)
Accused:unnamed policeman, Polish police force
Convicted:none
Verdict:lawful police intervention, accident
Convictions:none
Charges:none

The 2015 Knurów riots was the biggest unrest among ultras and football fans in Poland since the Słupsk street riots 1998, in protest at the killing of Dawid Dziedzic, a fan at lower league football match by police. Although the rioting has ceased tensions remain high and fans from around the globe have continued to publicly condemn the actions of the police.[1]

History

On 2 May 2015, at a Concordia Knurów versus Ruch Radzionków fifth division match in Knurów, police started firing rubber bullets at fans from a close distance after several home fans jumped onto the pitch and ran towards the visiting fans.

A 27-year-old fan of Concordia, Dawid Dziedzic, was shot, and despite attempts to resuscitate him he died shortly in hospital hours later.[2] He was a single father, described as a caring parent from a modest background.[3]

According to the police, the use of such force was justified,[4] whilst the fans said that such a minor infringement of pitch invasion should never be punished by death.[5] Under Polish law, unauthorised entering onto the pitch during a football match is punishable by up to three years in prison.[6] The police reaction has sparked anger among fans, particularly the ultras, with the appeal for support reaching an international appeal.[7] A full court investigation has launched into the incident.[8]

In Knurów around 200 fans have clashed with police outside the police headquarters, with the riots lasting several days.[9] [10] 46 people were arrested, many injured fans as well as policemen.[11]

Thousands of people attended Dawid's funeral on 7 May 2015.[12] [13] Fans lit flares during the ceremony, and the ceremony was conducted in a peaceful manner.[14] [15] The gathering was marked by heavy police presence.[16]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thanks for your support - Stadionowi Oprawcy. Thanks for your support - Stadionowi Oprawcy!. 2015-05-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20150516221350/http://www.stadionowioprawcy.net/news/2069-thanks_for_your_support.html. 2015-05-16. dead.
  2. News: Knurów: Śmierć kibica. Zamieszki na stadionie i pod szpitalem WIDEO + ZDJĘCIA - Polskatimes.pl. Portal I.pl . 4 May 2015. polskatimes.pl. 2015-05-07.
  3. Web site: Kim był mężczyzna, który zginął w Knurowie? . fakt.pl . 2015-05-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518105227/http://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/kim-byl-mezczyzna-ktory-zginal-w-knurowie-%2Cartykuly%2C543215.html . 2015-05-18 .
  4. Web site: Policja komentuje kontrowersje wokół zajść w Knurowie - Wiadomości. wiadomosci.onet.pl. 2015-05-07. 2015-05-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20150506233204/http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/slask/policja-komentuje-kontrowersje-wokol-zajsc-w-knurowie/y51dj5. dead.
  5. Web site: W walce o dobre imię człowieka :: Ultras Ruch Radzionków - South Inferno \' 04. ultrasruch.com. 2015-05-07.
  6. Ustawa z dnia 20 marca 2009 r. o bezpieczeństwie imprez masowych . Mass Events Safety Act . 2009 . 62 . 504 . 2009-03-20.
  7. Web site: Polish ultras appeal to international ultras groups. ultras-tifo.net. 2015-05-07.
  8. Web site: Investigation opened after Poland football match ends in tragedy | euronews, world news. 3 May 2015. euronews.com. 2015-05-12.
  9. Web site: Wojna kiboli z policją w Knurowie! LIVE, ZDJĘCIA, WIDEO Gorąca niedzielna noc - Dziennikzachodni.pl. 4 May 2015. dziennikzachodni.pl. 2015-05-07.
  10. Web site: Znowu zamieszki w Knurowie . fakt.pl . 2015-05-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150518105635/http://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/znowu-zamieszki-w-knurowie%2Cartykuly%2C542418.html . 2015-05-18 .
  11. Web site: Dziewięć osób zatrzymanych po kolejnych incydentach w Knurowie. tvn24.pl. 2015-05-07.
  12. Web site: Knurów: Pogrzeb kibica ZDJĘCIA + WIDEO Tysiące kibiców pożegnało Dawida Dziedzica - Dziennikzachodni.pl. dziennikzachodni.pl. 2015-05-07.
  13. Web site: Funeral of Dawid Dziedzic 07.05.2015. ultras-tifo.net. 2015-05-07.
  14. Web site: Pogrzeb kibica w Knurowie [ZDJĘCIA, WIDEO]. Na cmentarzu tłumy kibiców - naszemiasto.pl. 7 May 2015. gliwice.naszemiasto.pl. 2015-05-10.
  15. Web site: Fans vieler Vereine erwiesen Dawid die letzte Ehre – Faszination Fankurve. faszination-fankurve.de. 2015-05-12.
  16. Web site: Jutro pogrzeb kibica z Knurowa. Policja szykuje się na kolejne zamieszki - Wiadomości. wiadomosci.wp.pl. 2015-05-07.