Brazilian Franz Ferdinand Fans In Tear Gas Gig Panic
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Written by Elliott Batte
Gig-goers in Brazil faced crowd control unlike anything we'd see in the UK on Sunday night, after a Franz Ferdinand gig ended with the audience being tear-gassed by local authorities.
The free show, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, saw thousands of fans sprayed with the substance – which is usually reserved for huge public disorders and riots – after police failed to control them using other techniques in an attempt to try and stop them breaking down fences.
Audience members reported feeling sick, being temporarily blind, and having trouble breathing – as well as telling Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper that they were unable to find medical help.
One concert-goer, 18 year-old Thamys Porto, told the paper: “There was no organisation. Everyone started pushing forward trying to get in. That's when they closed the gates. There was panic. The riot police tried to make a human chain, but they couldn't contain them, so they began throwing tear gas into the crowd. I couldn't breathe or open my eyes. We tried to find medical help but there was none.”
Franz Ferdinand frontman Alex Kapranos was unhappy to hear of the news, and tweeted: “Hope any fans caught outside gig tonight were OK and weren’t hurt in the collision with police. That's terrible. I wish there was something I could do.”
Franz Ferdinand will be headlining the Field Day concert on Saturday – their first gig in two years. Check the link below if you need tickets.
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