An alarming incident took place near the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona before the derby clash between Espanyol and Barcelona, when a car drove into a large crowd of fans.
Video footage captured the white vehicle facing the masses, with individuals seen throwing drinks at it. The car then accelerated, moving into the group of fans, with some briefly clinging to the vehicle`s front. Armed police were observed pursuing the car as it continued through the crowd.
The incident occurred about 90 minutes before kick-off, impacting a group of Espanyol supporters waiting for a bus to the stadium. Several fans sustained injuries and required immediate medical attention; ambulances were dispatched to the scene.
According to local reports, Catalan police initially stated that a female driver lost control of her car. They have since maintained that the incident was accidental.
The Spanish top-flight match was briefly paused following the incident but resumed after confirmation that nobody had suffered life-threatening injuries in this specific event.
This event follows a similar incident in Paris just days prior, where a car struck football fans celebrating PSG`s Champions League victory before the vehicle was reportedly set on fire. Violent clashes broke out in the streets of Paris after the PSG vs Arsenal match.
Reports from the Paris incident indicated at least three people were injured by the car, with one individual hospitalized in critical condition. Footage from Paris showed youths, apparently PSG supporters, confronting riot police. There were also reports of vandalism, including shops and banks having their windows smashed.
A spokesperson for the Paris Police Prefecture confirmed that at least 43 arrests were made during the PSG victory celebrations, primarily for offenses against public order. They added that a full investigation into the car incident in Paris was underway.
