2015 Knurów riots

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]

2015 Knurów riots
Part of Police brutality against football fans in Poland
Date2 May 2015-7 May 2015
Location
Knurów, Poland
Caused bykilling of Dawid Dziedzic by police, a fan at an association football Concordia Knurów versus Ruch Radzionków match held in Knurów, Poland
GoalsBring to justice the perpetrators of the killing, end police brutality and persecution against football fans
MethodsProtest, vandalism, chanting, rioting
Statusdormant, unresolved
Parties to the civil conflict
Football fans
Number
200
undetermined
Casualties
Death(s)0
InjuriesMultiple
Arrested46
Killing of Dawid Dziedzic
Part of Police brutality against football fans in Poland
LocationMunicipal Stadium, Knurów, Poland
Date2 May 2015 (GMT+1)
TargetFans of Ruch Radzionków and Concordia Knurów
WeaponsRubber bullet guns
Deaths1
Injuredmultiple
VictimsDavid Dziecic
Perpetratorsunnamed members of the Polish police force
AssailantsPolish police force
MotiveCombating football hooliganism
InquiryMinistry of Internal Affairs, Regional Public prosecutor's office (Gliwice)
Accusedunnamed policeman, Polish police force
Convictednone
Verdictlawful police intervention, accident
Convictionsnone
Chargesnone

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[9] fans have clashed with police outside the police headquarters, with the riots lasting several days.[10][11] 46 people were arrested, many injured fans as well as policemen.[12]

Thousands of people attended Dawid's funeral on 7 May 2015.[13][14] Fans lit flares during the ceremony, and the ceremony was conducted in a peaceful manner.[15][16] The gathering was marked by heavy police presence.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Thanks for your support - Stadionowi Oprawcy". Thanks for your support - Stadionowi Oprawcy!. Archived from the original on 2015-05-16. Retrieved 2015-05-13.
  2. "Knurów: Śmierć kibica. Zamieszki na stadionie i pod szpitalem WIDEO + ZDJĘCIA - Polskatimes.pl". polskatimes.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  3. "Kim był mężczyzna, który zginął w Knurowie?". fakt.pl. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  4. "Policja komentuje kontrowersje wokół zajść w Knurowie - Wiadomości". wiadomosci.onet.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  5. "W walce o dobre imię człowieka :: Ultras Ruch Radzionków - South Inferno \' 04". ultrasruch.com. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  6. Ustawa z dnia 20 marca 2009 r. o bezpieczeństwie imprez masowych [Mass Events Safety Act], Dz. U. z 2009 r. Nr 62, poz. 504 (2009-03-20)
  7. "Polish ultras appeal to international ultras groups". ultras-tifo.net. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  8. "Investigation opened after Poland football match ends in tragedy | euronews, world news". euronews.com. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  9. "Riot in Poland after cop kills football fan during match (VIDEO) — RT News". rt.com. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  10. "Wojna kiboli z policją w Knurowie! LIVE, ZDJĘCIA, WIDEO Gorąca niedzielna noc - Dziennikzachodni.pl". dziennikzachodni.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  11. "Znowu zamieszki w Knurowie". fakt.pl. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  12. "Dziewięć osób zatrzymanych po kolejnych incydentach w Knurowie". tvn24.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  13. "Knurów: Pogrzeb kibica ZDJĘCIA + WIDEO Tysiące kibiców pożegnało Dawida Dziedzica - Dziennikzachodni.pl". dziennikzachodni.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  14. "Funeral of Dawid Dziedzic 07.05.2015". ultras-tifo.net. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  15. "Pogrzeb kibica w Knurowie [ZDJĘCIA, WIDEO]. Na cmentarzu tłumy kibiców - naszemiasto.pl". gliwice.naszemiasto.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-10.
  16. "Fans vieler Vereine erwiesen Dawid die letzte Ehre – Faszination Fankurve". faszination-fankurve.de. Retrieved 2015-05-12.
  17. "Jutro pogrzeb kibica z Knurowa. Policja szykuje się na kolejne zamieszki - Wiadomości". wiadomosci.wp.pl. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
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