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| Chirac condemns football violence | |
| (1 day later) | |
| French President Jacques Chirac has condemned violence that led to the shooting of a French football fan by a plain-clothes police officer. | French President Jacques Chirac has condemned violence that led to the shooting of a French football fan by a plain-clothes police officer. |
| The policeman fired into the crowd after he was physically attacked while seeking to protect a fan from anti-Semitic abuse, officials say. | |
| The violence broke out after Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv beat Paris Saint Germain (PSG) 4-2 in a European match. | The violence broke out after Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv beat Paris Saint Germain (PSG) 4-2 in a European match. |
| Mr Chirac said he was horrified by the reports of racism and anti-Semitism. | Mr Chirac said he was horrified by the reports of racism and anti-Semitism. |
| The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says the incident has shocked France and raised questions over racism, anti-Semitism and violence among football fans. | The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says the incident has shocked France and raised questions over racism, anti-Semitism and violence among football fans. |
| A hard core of PSG supporters are connected to the far right, she adds, with several fans banned from the club's matches after previous violent incidents. | |
| 'Self-defence' | 'Self-defence' |
| Prosecutors have opened an inquiry into the incident, to determine whether the officer involved, Antoine Granomort, should face criminal charges, AFP news agency reported. | |
| Mr Granomort reportedly fired tear gas, then live ammunition in an effort to disperse a fighting crowd near the Parc des Princes football stadium in Paris. | Mr Granomort reportedly fired tear gas, then live ammunition in an effort to disperse a fighting crowd near the Parc des Princes football stadium in Paris. |
| French Tel Aviv fans were subjected to anti-Semitic abuse by PSG fansAs a result, a 24-year-old PSG fan was killed and a 26-year-old man was seriously wounded. He remains in hospital in a serious condition. | French Tel Aviv fans were subjected to anti-Semitic abuse by PSG fansAs a result, a 24-year-old PSG fan was killed and a 26-year-old man was seriously wounded. He remains in hospital in a serious condition. |
| According to Paris state prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin, young French fans of the Tel Aviv team were rounded on by PSG supporters chanting anti-Semitic slogans after the Paris side suffered defeat. | According to Paris state prosecutor Jean-Claude Marin, young French fans of the Tel Aviv team were rounded on by PSG supporters chanting anti-Semitic slogans after the Paris side suffered defeat. |
| About 100 PSG fans gathered to chase one Tel Aviv supporter, the prosecutor said, at which point Mr Granomort, who is black, tried to intervene. | |
| Witnesses said the crowd hurled racist insults at him, while making Nazi salutes and shouting anti-Jewish abuse at the man he was trying to protect. | Witnesses said the crowd hurled racist insults at him, while making Nazi salutes and shouting anti-Jewish abuse at the man he was trying to protect. |
| According to the French authorities, Mr Granomort was physically attacked as he shouted that he was a police officer and pulled out his gun. | According to the French authorities, Mr Granomort was physically attacked as he shouted that he was a police officer and pulled out his gun. |
| Fans interviewed on French radio said he had appeared to fire two shots in panic, as he was pushed to the ground. | Fans interviewed on French radio said he had appeared to fire two shots in panic, as he was pushed to the ground. |
| He then sought refuge in a McDonald's restaurant with the man he had been trying to defend, while police reinforcements were brought in to restore calm. | He then sought refuge in a McDonald's restaurant with the man he had been trying to defend, while police reinforcements were brought in to restore calm. |
| Tougher measures | Tougher measures |
| Police union official Luc Poignant told the AFP news agency that Mr Granomort had "had no choice but to defend himself and protect another person". | Police union official Luc Poignant told the AFP news agency that Mr Granomort had "had no choice but to defend himself and protect another person". |
| Speaking at a summit meeting in Italy, Mr Chirac said the racist remarks reported "inspire a feeling not only of condemnation, not only of stupefaction - but also of horror". | Speaking at a summit meeting in Italy, Mr Chirac said the racist remarks reported "inspire a feeling not only of condemnation, not only of stupefaction - but also of horror". |
| French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called for new, tougher measures to deal with football hooligans. | French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin called for new, tougher measures to deal with football hooligans. |
| Anti-racism groups called for urgent action to stamp out racist behaviour among football fans, a message echoed by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe. | Anti-racism groups called for urgent action to stamp out racist behaviour among football fans, a message echoed by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe. |
| The head of the French football federation, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, told AFP the incident showed the need to "step up the fight against violence and racism, to wipe out this scourge that destroys the values of sport". | The head of the French football federation, Jean-Pierre Escalettes, told AFP the incident showed the need to "step up the fight against violence and racism, to wipe out this scourge that destroys the values of sport". |
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