Ivory Coast Police Attack Jackson Fans
Police armed with truncheons and whips attacked thousands of teen-age fans outside Michael Jackson’s hotel Thursday night. No arrests or injuries were immediately reported.
The incident occurred after a day of political clashes Thursday between police and anti-government protesters in which 37 people were reported injured and 143 were arrested.
Thousands of his fans gathered outside Jackson’s hotel Thursday night after official radio urged “the youth of Ivory Coast” to give the singer a warm welcome. The attack on the crowd of teen-agers, many of whom were chanting “Michael! Michael!” occurred without warning.
The Ministry of Communications said police acted because student protesters had infiltrated the Jackson fans and the crowd was getting too close to the hotel entrance, which is in walking distance of university residences.
“Police were trying to contain the crowd to avoid a confrontation,” the ministry told reporters. “Perhaps they were a bit brutal, but it was not with the intention of doing any harm.”
Jackson is in the Ivory Coast to film part of his latest video, “Return to Africa.”
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