MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A man was arrested and charged for alleged tragedy chanting during Manchester United's home game against Burnley in the Premier League, police said Sunday.
The 44-year-old from Lancashire in northern England has been charged under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, which relates to causing harassment, alarm or distress.
“As we have enforced recently, continued incidents of tragedy chanting by anyone will not be tolerated and will be dealt with robustly,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.
The game ended 1-1 on Saturday.
Burnley said in a statement on Saturday that it was aware of “offensive footage” circulating on social media from a section of United's Old Trafford stadium occupied by away fans.
“Tragedy related gesturing and chanting is completely unacceptable, and Burnley Football Club take a zero-tolerance approach,” the club said.
Police asked for previously circulated videos of the alleged incident to be removed from social media.
Soccer authorities and the police are trying to clamp down on tragedy-related chanting.
New measures this season mean people found to have committed offenses face stadium bans and potential criminal prosecution.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - A general view of the Manchester United's stadium Old Trafford, in Manchester, England, Aug. 10, 2018. A soccer fan has been arrested and charged for alleged tragedy chanting during Manchester United's game against Burnley, Police said Sunday. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)
ISLAMABAD (AP) — When he heard that devastating floods hit his village in northern Afghanistan last week, farmer Abdul Ghani rushed home from neighboring Kunduz province where he was visiting relatives. When he got home, he found out that his wife and three children had perished in the deluge.
Two of his sons survived but another son, who is 11, is still missing. “I couldn’t even find the road to my village,” he said, describing how he turned back and went another way to reach his district of Nahrin in Baghlan province.
Across Baghlan, others like Ghani and survivors of the disaster were still searching for their missing loved ones and burying their dead on Monday.
“Roads, villages and lands were all washed away,” Ghani said. His wife, his 7-year-old and 9-year-old daughters and a 4-year-old son died.
“My life has turned into a disaster,” he said, speaking to The Associated Press over the phone.
The U.N. food agency estimates that the unusually heavy seasonal rains in Afghanistan left more than 300 people dead and thousands of houses destroyed, most of them in Baghlan, which bore the brunt of floodings on Friday.
Survivors have been left with no home, no land, and no source of livelihood, the World Food Organization said. Most of Baghlan is "inaccessible by trucks,” said WFP, adding that it is resorting to every alternative it can think of to get food to the survivors.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed condolences to the victims, said a statement on Sunday, adding that the world body and aid agencies are working with the Taliban-run government to help.
“The United Nations and its partners in Afghanistan are coordinating with the de facto authorities to swiftly assess needs and provide emergency assistance,” according to the statement.
The dead include 51 children, according to UNICEF, one of several international aid groups that are sending relief teams, medicines, blankets and other supplies. The World Health Organization said it delivered 7 tons of medicines and emergency kits to the stricken areas.
Meanwhile, the U.N. migration agency has been distributing aid packages that include temporary shelters, essential non-food items, solar modules, clothing, and tools for repairs to their damaged shelters.
The latest disaster came on the heels of a previous one, when at least 70 people died in April from heavy rains and flash floods in the country. The waters also destroyed about 2,000 homes, three mosques and four schools in western Farah and Herat, and southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.
People stand in muddy water after heavy flooding in Baghlan province, in northern Afghanistan, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Victims of the devastating floods in northern Afghanistan are burying the dead and looking for the loved ones still missing. (AP Photo)
Dead bodies of Afghan people are placed on the ground after heavy flooding in Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan Saturday, May 11, 2024. Flash floods from seasonal rains in Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan killed dozens of people on Friday, a Taliban official said. (AP Photo/Mehrab Ibrahimi)
Belongings left outside after heavy flooding in Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Victims of the devastating floods in northern Afghanistan are burying the dead and looking for the loved ones still missing. (AP Photo)
People stand near damaged homes after heavy flooding in Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Victims of the devastating floods in northern Afghanistan are burying the dead and looking for the loved ones still missing. (AP Photo)
An Afghan man collects his belongings from his damaged home after heavy flooding in Baghlan province, in northern Afghanistan, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Victims of the devastating floods in northern Afghanistan are burying the dead and looking for the loved ones still missing. (AP Photo)
People stand near damaged homes after heavy flooding in Baghlan province, in northern Afghanistan, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Victims of the devastating floods in northern Afghanistan are burying the dead and looking for the loved ones still missing. (AP Photo)
People are seen near to their damaged homes after heavy flooding in Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan Saturday, May 11, 2024. Flash floods from seasonal rains in Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan killed dozens of people on Friday, a Taliban official said. (AP Photo/Mehrab Ibrahimi)
