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| How to celebrate the Dia del Hincha de Boca, Day of Boca Soccer Fans (a favourite soccer team in Buenos Aires) At one time 5000 'fans' filled the Plaza de Republica around the iconic Obelisco of Buenos Aires. Police cordoned off access streets all around, which caused major traffic problems at rush hour. Fans were mostly rather inebriated and quite aggressive, hence fighting amongst each other, and then resorting to throwing rocks and bottles and other missiles at police and infantry, who concentrated on containing the chaos. McDonalds projecting sign was invaded by 'hinchas' who climbed up and smashed windows, later descended by sliding along the National Flag suspended from above like a bedsheet. |
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| The 'festivities' went into the night, and evolved into a number of break ins and robberies. By that time 9 injured policemen finished up in hospital. Fans climbed overhead traffic lightpoles and removed security cameras and waved BOCA banners. Streets were covered in debris, garbage and broken glass. I was safely back home at that time, coming home after a Milonga (no one there knew yet of the incidents just a couple of blocks away) 'the long way' by taxi, instead of the usual bus ride. Buses took alternative routes through the city centre, which resulted that no one knew where the alternative stops were. |
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| Police and Infantry formed a line of defence against the chaotic crowd |
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| Injured amongst the celebrants |
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| Traffic Light underneath the Obelisco |
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| McDonalds.... |
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| The Day after...traffic runs again, the mountains of broken glass are gone, the graffiti on th ebottom of the Obelisco remains. Incidents in the rest of the country which happened as a by product of police protesting low salaries and locking themself in, have almost stopped after agreements have been reached between Provincial Governments and Police, the aftermath of lootings and destructions remains to be mopped up. It seems a dangerous profession to be a member of the police force. According to local media, 36 of them have been killed on duty this year, that is - so far - one every 10 days. Photos compliments of public media.... |
