As riots broke out across France last night in the wake of Morocco's defeat at the hands of the French team in the World Cup, a tragedy occurred in Montpelier. It appears that a mob of angry Moroccans was attacking a motorist who was waving the French flag. As the motorist tried to flee the scene, a 14-year-old Moroccan boy was struck and killed.
The French Belgian news outlet, 7 Sur 7, has posted a video of the incident (Viewer warning: Graphic.)
The below article from today's Midi Libre (Montpelier) is translated by Fousesquawk.
14-year-old adolescent dead after France-Morocco match in Montpelier: Circumstances, victim...what we know
Posted December 15, 2022 at 12:11, updated at 16:21
Caption below photo: Site of the tragedy in La Paillade
The tragedy, which played out in La Paillade, caused considerable emotion Wednesday evening after the France-Morocco match. The victim is the son of a family of merchants well known in the district.
A 14-year-old adolescent was fatally struck by a driver Wednesday evening in Montpelier after the France-Morocco match and the qualification of France for the 2022 World Cup final.
The tragedy reportedly occurred around 22:30 in the heart of the La Paillade district. On several videos circulating on social media, one can see a white Citroen C4 car with a black roof stopped in a traffic jam. A blue-white-red (French) flag is hanging from the driver's side rear window.
A group of about 15 persons walking along the line of cars, arrives at the vehicle. One of them tears the flag away. The vehicle immediately begins to make a half turn-around and hits the adolescent who remains on the ground. In cardiac-respiratory arrest, he is treated by emergency responders and transferred to CHU (University Hospital) where he dies later in the evening.
"The police investigation is proceeding rapidly"
The victim is a young resident of Montpelier of Moroccan origin, first name Aymen, son of a family of merchants well known in La Paillade. He was educated at a secondary school in the quarter where his death has caused considerable emotion.
The driver's car was found abandoned a few hundred meters from the scene and "seized", the prefect of L'Herault, Hugues Moutouh announced in a statement. He noted that "the police investigation is progressing rapidly under the direction of the prosecutor's office".
Video surveillance cameras and witness statements collected at the scene by police have reportedly led to the identification of the car's owner. He had been recognized by people in the neighborhood who went looking for him shortly after the tragedy.
The investigation is being led by the Urban Departmental Security. The police are particularly interested in a person who was injured after the tragedy. A man confronted by the crowd and who had to be hospitalized. "He is not necessarily the right person," one close to the case cautions.
The mayor of Montpelier was reportedly to visit the family and relatives of the deceased in the late morning.
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