Explosives in football stadium - charges filed
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has for the first time filed an indictment for violence in sports stadiums. The indictment is against a 23-year-old man who set off several explosive and smoke devices in a soccer stadium.
On the occasion of the Super League match FC Luzern - FC St. Gallen on 21.02.2016, it was possible to smuggle pyrotechnic objects into the stadium. Based on the analysis of surveillance images, the accused could be proven to have thrown the explosive and smoke devices onto the pitch. In doing so, he accepted that people would come to harm and that damage would be caused to the facility and the turf, which actually occurred. One person, who was watching the game in the neighboring sector, was injured during this action. During the criminal investigation, it came to light that the defendant was illegally in possession of a large quantity of similar pyrotechnic objects.
The charges brought by the Office of the Attorney General are therefore multiple endangerment by explosives and toxic gases with criminal intent (Art. 224 para. 1 SCC), grievous bodily harm (Art. 122 para. 2 SCC), multiple damage to property committed on the occasion of a public gathering (Art. 144 para. 2 SCC) and multiple violations of the Explosives Act (Art. 3 para. 1, 15 para. 1 in conjunction with Art. 37 para. 1 para. 1 SprstG and Art. 17 and 22 para. 1 in conjunction with Art. 22 para. 1 SprstG). Art. 37 No. 1 Para. 1 SprstG and Art. 17 and 22 Para. 1 in conjunction with. Art. 38 No. 1 Para. 1 SprstG).
The competence of the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland for these criminal proceedings is based, on the one hand, on the type of explosive device and, on the other hand, on the intent to use this explosive material in a place where a concrete danger to people and/or objects must be accepted. Art. 224 para. 1 StGB applies here.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland will file the criminal charges at the main hearing before the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. The accused is presumed innocent until a court verdict has been reached. With the filing of the indictment, the Federal Criminal Court is responsible for further information.
Press release Federal Prosecutor's Office
