Post by Matt on Jun 22, 2008 23:46:51 GMT 7
At least 23 people across Turkey were wounded by stray bullets following the firing of shots in celebration of the win over Croatia in the European Championship quarterfinals.
Governor Muammer Guler said Saturday that 11 people were accidentally shot in Istanbul, the country's largest city, where 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-kick shootout after a 1-1 draw. It was the third time Turkey rallied to win, beating Switzerland 2-1 and then scoring two goals in the final three minutes to beat the Czech Republic 3-2 to qualify for the knockout stage.
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 faces Germany in Wednesday's semifinal match and the country is likely to have to brace for more gun violence if the national team 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 sports activities.
In soccer stadiums, the first "No Guns" banners appeared behind goalposts 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 citizens 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 barely enforce the laws and that more must be done to curb the gun culture in a society that reveres its former imperial past.
Governor Muammer Guler said Saturday that 11 people were accidentally shot in Istanbul, the country's largest city, where 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-kick shootout after a 1-1 draw. It was the third time Turkey rallied to win, beating Switzerland 2-1 and then scoring two goals in the final three minutes to beat the Czech Republic 3-2 to qualify for the knockout stage.
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 faces Germany in Wednesday's semifinal match and the country is likely to have to brace for more gun violence if the national team 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 sports activities.
In soccer stadiums, the first "No Guns" banners appeared behind goalposts 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 citizens 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 barely enforce the laws and that more must be done to curb the gun culture in a society that reveres its former imperial past.
