Wikipedia

2022 EC Bahia bus attack

On February 24, 2022, an improvised explosive device was thrown at a bus transporting players of the Brazilian association football team Esporte Clube Bahia on their way to a match against Sampaio Corrêa Futebol Clube in the city of Salvador. Two players were wounded by shrapnel, and the bus as well as a nearby passing car and motorcycle were damaged by the blast.[1][2][3] The case is under investigation by Bahia's Civil Police and Public Prosecutor's Office, and the main suspects are members of EC Bahia's local torcida organizada (organized supporters), Bamor.[4]

2022 EC Bahia bus attack
Aerial view of Avenida Bonocô [pt], where the attack took place, in 2012.
LocationSalvador, Bahia, Brazil
DateFebruary 24, 2022
c. 7:50 p.m. (GMT-3)
TargetEsporte Clube Bahia players
WeaponImprovised explosive device
Deaths0
Injured2
PerpetratorsUnder investigation
No. of participants
7
MotiveFootball hooliganism

Attack edit

At 5:40 p.m., a white Hyundai HB20 and a green Renault Duster Oroch arrived at Salvador's Bonocô Avenue and pulled over. A total of six men exited the cars and stood on the road waiting for the team's bus, while one driver waited in one of the vehicles. As it drove by at around 7:50 p.m., the men attacked the bus with bombs, fireworks and other unidentified projectiles, and then fled the scene.[5][6][7]

A passing civilian car was also caught by the blast, which shattered its rear-left window. The driver, a school teacher, was not injured. A motorcycle belonging to a police officer was also damaged.[8][9]

Aftermath edit

Two members of EC Bahia's squad were injured: goalkeeper Danilo Fernandes was hit on his face by shrapnel and shards of glass, and left-back Matheus Bahia had his arm cut by shrapnel; forward Marcelo Cirino was initially reported to have suffered unspecified injuries, however the club's physician later clarified that he had been simply startled by the explosion and was not hit by any fragments, though he did not participate in the match later that night.[10][11][12][13]

Despite the apprehension following the attack, the team still decided to carry out its planned Copa do Nordeste match against Sampaio Corrêa, without Danilo, Matheus and Marcelo, ultimately winning with a score of 2–0.[1][14]

Danilo was the most badly wounded among the victims, having shrapnel lodged in his neck and dangerously close to his eye, and was hospitalized for one day and sidelined from future matches while undergoing several ophthalmological appointments and treatments.[12][15] Marcelo departed from the club one week after the attack, citing related "personal reasons."[16][17]

Investigation edit

On the next day, February 25, the police identified the vehicles used by the attackers as belonging to Half Silva, president of Torcida Organizada Bamor, EC Bahia's local organized supporter chapter. They were found in the organization's headquarters and confiscated. Silva was detained and questioned by the police, where he claimed that he was away in Feira de Santana at the moment of the attack.[18] Two other suspects, also members of Bamor, were detained and spent a night in jail.[19] On March 09, the chief of police in charge of the case, Francineide Moura, stated that the suspects, all of whom are members of Bamor, have been identified, that arrest warrants would soon be issued and that they will be charged with attempted murder. She also claimed that Bamor never cooperated with or assisted the investigations.[20][21]

Bamor denies any allegations of involvement. On the same day of the attack, the organization issued a note repudiating the bombing, calling it an "act of vandalism," as well as criticizing the "unfounded position on the press's part" for accusing its members of taking part in the attack.[22] The organization's attorney claimed that there was no attack and that "it could have been an accident" involving a reception with fireworks.[23]

Reactions edit

The bombing was met with widespread condemnation from Brazil's football community and authorities. Various football clubs issued notes expressing solidarity and support towards EC Bahia, including Flamengo, Fluminense, Santos, Cruzeiro, Vasco and Corinthians.[24] Bahia state governor Rui Costa denounced the attack on his Twitter, stating "Nothing justifies the cowardly attack on Bahia's bus this Thursday night," saying "Players [...] are professionals and deserve respect."[25] CONMEBOL also condemned the attack, stating "Conmebol condemns the attack perpetrated against the bus that transported members of the Bahia club [...] Football is synonymous of peace and tolerance. Violence destroys sport."[26]

The attack was also noted in Brazil for having garnered international media attention,[27][28] with many reports citing the unusual circumstances of the attack; although acts of vandalism against football team buses and intimidation towards players are not uncommon in the country, the use of explosives and coordinated assaults is quite rare.[1][11] Spain's Diario AS and Argentina's Olé reported on the attack,[29][30] the latter emphasizing in its report that Argentine EC Bahia player Lucas Mugni was unharmed.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Savarese, Mauricio (2022-02-25). "Brazilian soccer team players injured by explosion on bus". AP News. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  2. ^ "Bomb explodes on Brazilian team Bahia's team bus, injuring three". BBC Sport. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  3. ^ "Ônibus do Bahia é atingido por bomba na Fonte Nova, antes de pegar o Sampaio; jogadores ficam feridos" [Bahia's bus is hit by bomb in Fonte Nova, before game against Sampaio; players are wounded]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  4. ^ "MP-BA acompanha investigações de ataque contra ônibus do Bahia; membros de torcida organizada são suspeitos do crime" [MP-BA accompanies investigations of attack against Bahia's bus; members of organized supporters are suspected of the crime]. G1 (in Portuguese). 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  5. ^ "Dois veículos participaram de emboscada ao ônibus do Bahia; polícia tenta identificar placas" [Two vehicles participated in ambush on Bahia's bus; police tries to identify license plates]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  6. ^ "Imagens mostram ataque a ônibus do Bahia; ação está ligada a organizada" [Images show attack on Bahia's bus; action is connected to organized supporters]. UOL (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  7. ^ "Câmeras flagram atentado a ônibus do Bahia, Polícia aponta culpados e diz por não conseguiu persegui-los até o fim" [Cameras catch assault on Bahia's bus, police points out culprits and says why they couldn't pursue them to the end]. ESPN (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  8. ^ "Professora que teve carro atingido durante ataque ao ônibus do Bahia relata momentos de tensão: 'pensei que eram tiros'" [Teacher who had car hit during attack on Bahia's bus reports moments of tension: 'I thought it was gunshots']. G1 (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  9. ^ Gonzalez, Roger (2022-02-25). "Brazilian soccer club Esporte Clube Bahia's bus bombed on way to home match, injuring players". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  10. ^ "Brazil: Soccer team players injured in explosion on bus". DW. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  11. ^ a b "Bahia team bus hit by explosive on way to match in Brazil". Reuters. 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  12. ^ a b "Médico do Bahia explica estado de feridos em ataque; Danilo Fernandes passa noite em hospital" [Bahia's doctor explains condition of wounded on attack; Danilo Fernandes spends night in hospital]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  13. ^ "Danilo Fernandes recebe alta médica após sofrer ferimentos em ataque a ônibus do Bahia" [Danilo Fernandes is discharged from hospital after suffering injuries in attack on Bahia's bus]. Gazeta Esportiva. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  14. ^ "Depois de susto na chegada à Fonte Nova, Bahia vence Sampaio Corrêa pela Copa do Nordeste" [After scare on arrival to Fonte Nova, Bahia wins over Sampaio Corrêa for the Northeast Cup]. Terra (in Portuguese). 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  15. ^ de Freitas, Victor (2022-03-01). "Com lesão no olho, Danilo passará por procedimento nesta semana" [With eye injury, Danilo will undergo procedure this week]. ecbahia.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  16. ^ "Uma semana após ataque a ônibus, Marcelo Cirino decide deixar o Bahia" [One week after attack on bus, Marcelo Cirino decides to leave Bahia]. ESPN (in Portuguese). 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  17. ^ "Marcelo Cirino não é mais jogador do Bahia" [Marcelo Cirino is no longer Bahia player]. Lance! (in Portuguese). 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
  18. ^ "Carros envolvidos em ataque a ônibus são de membros da Bamor; presidente é apresentado" [Cars involved in attack on bus are of Bamor's members; president is presented]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  19. ^ "Suspeitos de atentado ao ônibus do Bahia passam a noite detidos; saiba como anda a investigação" [Suspects of assault on Bahia's bus spend night detained; know how investigation is going]. ESPN (in Portuguese). 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  20. ^ "Suspeitos do ataque ao ônibus do Bahia são identificados pela polícia; saiba mais" [Suspects of attack on Bahia's bus are identified by police; know more]. iBahia (in Portuguese). 2022-03-09. Archived from the original on 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  21. ^ "Polícia identifica todos os suspeitos do ataque ao ônibus do Bahia" [Police identifies all suspects of attack on Bahia's bus]. Metro 1 (in Portuguese). 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  22. ^ "Torcida organizada emite nota e repudia ataque a ônibus do Bahia" [Organized supporters issue note and repudiate attack on Bahia's bus]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  23. ^ "VÍDEO: Advogado da Bamor diz que bomba jogada no ônibus do Bahia eram fogos e não houve atentado; "pode ter sido acidente"" [VIDEO: Bamor's attorney says that bomb thrown on Bahia's bus were fireworks and there was no assault; "it could have been an accident"]. Aratu On (in Portuguese). 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  24. ^ "Clubes se solidarizam com o Bahia após bomba ferir atletas no ônibus" [Clubs show solidarity with Bahia after bomb injures athletes on bus]. UOL (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  25. ^ "Governador determina imediata apuração de atentado contra o Bahia" [Governor determines immediate investigation of assault against Bahia]. iG (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  26. ^ "Conmebol condena ataque contra Bahia brasileño que dejó dos jugadores heridos" [Conmebol condemns attack against Brazilian Bahia which left two players injured]. Swissinfo (in Spanish). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  27. ^ "Jornais internacionais repercutem ataque a bomba ao ônibus do Bahia" [International newspapers report bomb attack on Bahia's bus]. Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  28. ^ Gama, Ulisses; Aragão, Leandro (2022-02-25). "Atentado ao ônibus do Bahia ganha repercussão internacional; veja manchetes" [Assault on Bahia's bus earns international reporting; see headlines]. Bahia Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  29. ^ Lopesino, Juan (2022-02-25). "Una bomba estalla en el bus de Bahía y deja varios heridos" [A bomb explodes in Bahia's bus and leaves several injured]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  30. ^ Olé (2022-02-24). "Bomba a Bahía: jugadores heridos" [Bomb to Bahia: players injured]. Olé (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-03-04.
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