Morocco fans celebrate entering the World Cup semi-finals

It only took a few minutes for the center of Bonn to transform into a sea of ​​Moroccan joy: Shortly after the Moroccan national team won their quarter-final victory against Portugal at the World Cup, marches with cheering Moroccans formed around Bertha- von -Suttner-Platz . Police had already positioned themselves in large numbers in the city center before the final whistle to await the fans.

According to the police, around 1,000 cheering fans – equipped with drums and whistles – are currently peacefully populating the streets, waving the Moroccan flag overjoyed by the victory, dancing exuberantly, lighting fireworks and setting off firecrackers. Trams can only pass with the help of the police.

The hard core party gathered on Kölnstrasse near the McDonalds restaurant, cordoned off by the police force. The intersection is completely blocked. To prevent any danger, the police sometimes take fireworks out of the crowd and let them burn in a controlled manner from the side. The police closed the area from Kennedybrücke and Kölnstraße to Theaterstraße to traffic.

Among the cars honking the revelers’ horns were also some uninvolved vehicles whose occupants were initially forced to celebrate, because no one could escape the cheering crowds.

As there are currently no more trains arriving at Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz, this stop is currently no longer served. Trains to and from Siegburg currently only run up to Konrad-Adenauer-Platz. And from the other direction to the main station and then back again. According to our reporter, a number of travelers are stuck in place at Bertha-von-Suttner-Platz: “There seems to be no one here who can give people information.”

A number of marches with Moroccan fans are also reported from Bad Godesberg, Wachtberg and other parts of the city as well as from the region. In Bad Godesberg, the events focus on, among others, Bonner Strasse and Koblenzer Strasse. According to the police, around 200 fans celebrate there. There are currently traffic delays there.

Koblenzer Strasse in Bad Godesberg is completely blocked. No bus can pass there anymore. Some buses are then bypassing the blocked area.

At first, there was no police on site in Bad Godesberg, reports our local reporter. Only at 18:55 did the first forces intervene, which in the meantime blocked Koblenzer Strasse.

The police control center is currently handling all World Cup-related operations in the Bonn city area. As Moroccan fans are celebrating their country’s victory in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in different places and blocking roads, numerous police forces need to be coordinated, the AG said.

Exuberant parties also take place in Cologne. There, for example, the Hohenzollernring is currently completely blocked by Moroccan fans, reports our journalist from the site. The ring was temporarily closed to traffic by the police from Rudolfplatz to Friesenplatz.

Other cities in North Rhine-Westphalia also celebrated after the surprise victory of the Moroccan team in the quarter-finals of the World Cup: a huge crowd had gathered in the center of Düsseldorf. Firecrackers and flares were lit, the smoke wafted over the area inhabited by many North Africans. A dpa photographer estimated more than 2,000 fans celebrating the Moroccan side’s 1-0 victory over Portugal. Numerous police officers were on duty.

Things were quieter in Dortmund and Essen. According to a police spokesman, around 300 football fans celebrated in central Essen. “The fireworks were also lit, but overall everything remained calm,” the spokesman said in the evening. In Dortmund, a car parade went through the city with a car horn honking. Bengalos and firecrackers were lit and Moroccan flags waved.

Here is the photo gallery: This is how the Moroccans celebrate their victory in the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Bonn