23 Turkish fans injured in Euro celebrations
Last Updated: Saturday, June 21, 2008 | 1:29 PM ET
The Associated Press
At least 23 people across Turkey were injured by stray bullets following the firing of shots across the country to celebrate Turkey's win over Croatia in the European Championship quarter-finals.
Gov. Muammer Guler said Saturday 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 hurt by ricocheting bullets in seven other cities, police said.
Turkey defeated Croatia 3-1 a in penalty shootout 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 hit by stray bullets after the win against Czech Republic, said the Umut Foundation, a gun-control advocacy group, on its website.
Turkey hopes to beat Germany in Wednesday's semifinal match and is likely to have to brace for 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 activities.
The Umut Foundation says around 700 people are killed by stray bullets in Turkey each year. So far, 30 people have been killed in celebrations after soccer matches in the last decade, it said.
In soccer 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.
Saturday's shootings occurred despite calls from police to not to use their guns to express their joy after soccer 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 to express their joy after the victory against Croatia.
However, gun control advocates say that police laxly enforce the laws and that more must be done to curb the gun culture in a society that reveres its former imperial past.
