Hundreds of Egyptian fans descended into disorder on London's Edgware Road Friday night to celebrate the national team's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Australia in the World Cup. The celebrations, which began peacefully, escalated into clashes with police, traffic standstills, and fans climbing on a double-decker bus.
Edgware Road, known for its significant Egyptian and Middle Eastern community and often referred to as 'Little Cairo,' became the scene of the unrest as supporters gathered to watch the match. Egypt secured its first World Cup knockout victory since 1934, defeating Australia 4-2 on penalties after the match concluded around 6 p.m. BST.
Footage from the event captured police officers engaging with fans as crowds surged across the road, halting traffic. Chants of 'Free Palestine' were also heard in the vicinity. In one instance, officers were seen grappling with a fan, who was then pulled away by other supporters.
As music played, fans navigated through stationary vehicles, with some climbing onto the roofs of buses. Supporters, waving Egyptian flags, cheered down at the crowds below from atop a double-decker bus.
Amidst the celebrations, a grey 4x4 vehicle drove through a section of the crowd. The car subsequently collided with a man crossing the road, leaving him motionless in the street. Bystanders rushed to assist the injured individual, while others pursued the fleeing driver.
This historic win marks a significant achievement for Egypt, placing them in the last 16 of the World Cup. It also signifies a moment for African football, with Egypt joining Morocco as the second African nation to win a knockout match in the same World Cup. For Australia, the loss means a third consecutive defeat in World Cup knockout stages. Egypt is scheduled to play either Argentina or Cape Verde in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 7.