16 dead as Real Madrid fanbase attacked by terrorists in Iraq

16 dead as Real Madrid fanbase attacked by terrorists in Iraq

A Real Madrid fan club in Iraq suffered a terrorist attack on Friday according to AS.

The base in Samarra, 125 kilometres north of Baghdad, was attacked and 16 people died and at least 20 are injured, many of them seriously. 

In the moment of the attack around 50 members were present. AS got in touch with the president of the fan club, Ziad Subhan, who explained what had happened. 

"A group of Islamic terrorists ISIS entered the headquarters brandishing several assault rifles AK-47 and fired randomly all who were there," he said.

The motive for the attack, he suggested, could be that "they do not like football, they consider it something anti-Muslim. In the end they commit atrocities like this. We are totally devastated by what has happened."

Real Madrid commented that they "deeply regret the terrible attack" and "show their total sadness and offer their affection and condolences to the families and friends of the victims". 

The team will wear black armbands in their game against Deportivo as a symbol of morning and respect.

Full Madrid statement

Real Madrid C. F. deeply regrets the terrible attack in Iraq which today saw 16 members of a Real Madrid supporters club lose their lives and which has also left over 20 injured.

The club expresses its great sadness and offers its regards and condolences to the families and friends of the victims.

Real Madrid extends all of its solidarity to the people of Irak, who suffer the excessive injustices of extreme violence.

The Real Madrid players will tomorrow wear symbolic black armbands as a sign of their mourning and respect. Football and sport shall always be spaces in which to come together and in which harmony and peace reign and with which no form of barbaric terrorism will be able to compete.

Today Madridismo across the whole world cries for its supporters, who shall never be forgotten.