Governance Index

14 Real Madrid supporters killed in ISIS terror attack

Published

9 years ago

May 13, 2016

At least 14 people have been killed and several others injured after gunmen wearing suicide vests opened fire on a café filled with Real Madrid supporters.

The incident took place in the Iraqi town of Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad.

They detonated their explosive devices.

The militant group, the Islamic State (Isis) claimed responsibility for the attack.

A further 28 people were injured in the gathering of around 50 people during the terrorist attack at the centre.

Gruesome scenes have started to emerge in pictures and video on social media that illustrate the aftermath of the bloodbath.

Bullet holes can be seen littering a room full of armchairs with an upturned chair in the centre – and blood smeared all over the floor with a trail leading out of what appears to be a main meeting room.

In a video shot this afternoon, blood leads out on to the street from the building where a body is being carried into an emergency truck by men dressed in police and army uniforms.

Reuters14 dead as terrorists attack Real Madrid supporters club in Baghdad

Dozens of other people have flooded the scene and are walking through the shattered glass and blood with a sense of shock.

The remnants of a blaze on at least one of the sofas can be seen which is littered with bottles of water.

Its members are said to meet at the club headquarters for coffee and to watch old Real Madrid games when there isn’t live football on.

The video also shows the switched off TVs hung among portraits of Real Madrid heroes like Ronaldo on the wall.

President of the supporters club Ziad Subhan said: “A group of Islamic terrorists, from ISIS, came into the café, armed with AK-47s, shooting at random at everyone who was inside”.

A lone shoe lies in a pool of dark blood at the scene of the terrorist attack

Asked about the motives for the attack, AS reports the president said: “They don’t like football, they think it’s anti-Muslim. They just carry out attacks like this. This is a terrible tragedy”.

The official Twitter account for La Liga posted on Twitter that it was “thinking of the victims and families”.

Supporters clubs in the Middle East said they were united in grief throughout the ‘commonwealth of Real Madrid fans’.

They claimed that ‘the very youngest innocent members of the association’ were targeted in the attack in Iraq, describing them as martyrs – and that they were praying ‘for the wounded to heal’.

An association of Chelsea fans in Iraq also condemned the act of terrorism – and fans of the club worldwide reacted with horror and shock at the news on social media.

One fan Ryan (@ryantran55) posted: “No matter how different we may be, we all share one common love. My thoughts go out to the Real Madrid fan club attack victims in Iraq.”

Another football fan Kilian Hanratty (@KilianHanratty) said: “Football has brought millions together for the better – Isis ‘don’t like football… they think it’s anti-Muslim.”

And fan Richie Bryant (@roxrichie) posted: “Isis kills real madrid fans this morning at a gathering club in Iraq. Now isis isn’t just religious n political but also social.ridiculous!” (sic)

– In a different attack on Wednesday three separate car bombings in Baghdad killed at least 93 people and wounded 165.

The Islamic State group later claimed responsibility for all three bombings.

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