Stray bullets wound 23 as Turkish fans celebrate Euro 2008 win

Published on Saturday 21 June 2008 19:49

AT LEAST 23 people across Turkey were wounded by stray bullets following the firing of shots across the country to celebrate the win over Croatia in the European Championship quarter-finals.

Governor Muammer Guler said yesterday that 11 people were accidentally shot in Istanbul, the country's largest city where all-night festivities were the wildest.

Twelve other people, including a 10-year-old girl and an elderly woman, were wounded by ricocheting bullets in seven other cities, police said.

Turkey defeated Croatia 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw. It was the third time Turkey had rallied to win, beating Switzerland 2-1 and then scoring two goals in the final three minutes to beat the Czech Republic 3-2.

Five people were wounded by stray bullets after the win against the Czech Republic, said the Umut Foundation, a gun control advocacy campaign group, on its website.

Turkey now hopes to beat Germany in Wednesday's semifinal and the country could face more gun violence if it wins.

For many years, critics have been urging the government to take action to curb handgun ownership, saying the country has one of the world's highest death tolls from stray bullets at festivities, including weddings, circumcisions or sports events.

The Umut Foundation says around 700 people are killed by stray bullets in Turkey each year. Some 30 people have been killed in celebrations after football matches in the past decade.

In football stadiums, the first "No Guns" banners appeared behind goal posts in Turkey more than a decade ago. But the signs have so far failed to discourage fans from firing shots.

Friday's shootings occurred despite calls from police for fans not to use their guns to express their joy after football victories, reminding that those illegally firing weapons could face a prison term of between six months and three years.

Guler said 54 people would be prosecuted in Istanbul for firing into the air after the victory against Croatia. However, gun control advocates say that police laxly enforce the laws and more must be done.