ISIS kill 16 Real Madrid fans in massacre at supporters club headquarters
WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: Three gunmen opened fire around midnight at the Al Furat cafe in Balad, 50 miles north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad
A group of Islamic State terrorists armed with AK-47s attacked the headquarters of a Real Madrid supporters club - because 'they don't like football'.
Three gunmen opened fire around midnight at the Al Furat cafe in Balad, 50 miles north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
It is believed at least 16 people - mainly Real Madrid fans but also cafe staff and other customers - were killed more than 20 people injured.
Islamic State later claimed responsibility, while gruesome pictures and video have emerged illustrating the aftermath of the bloodbath.
Bullet holes can be seen littering a room full of armchairs with an upturned chair in the centre - and blood smeared all over the floor with a trail leading out of what appears to be a main meeting room.
Real Madrid offered their 'profound condolences' and said their players would wear black armbands tomorrow.
A statement posted to their website read: "Real Madrid C. F. deeply regrets the terrible attack in Iraq which today saw 16 members of a Real Madrid supporters club lose their lives and which has also left over 20 injured.
"The club expresses its great sadness and offers its regards and condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
"Real Madrid extends all of its solidarity to the people of Iraq, who suffer the excessive injustices of extreme violence.
"The Real Madrid players will tomorrow wear symbolic black armbands as a sign of their mourning and respect.
"Football and sport shall always be spaces in which to come together and in which harmony and peace reign and with which no form of barbaric terrorism will be able to compete.
"Today Madridismo across the whole world cries for its supporters, who shall never be forgotten."
La Liga president Javier Tebas tweeted: "Shocked by the attack against a Real Madrid supporters club in Iraq. Terrorism attacking football. We are with the victims and their families.
"Football is a target for terror. We were going to travel to Iraq this month, but it was postponed for security reasons. We will return to support the Iraqi people."
In a video shot this afternoon, blood leads out on to the street from the building where a body is being carried into an emergency truck by men dressed in police and army uniforms.
Dozens of other people have flooded the scene and are walking through the shattered glass and blood with a sense of shock.
The remnants of of a blaze on at least one of the sofas can be seen which is littered with bottles of water.
The fan group, which has 4191 members, meet for coffee and to watch old Real Madrid games when there isn't live football on.
The video also shows the switched off TVs hung among portraits of Real Madrid heroes like Ronaldo on the wall.
President of the supporters club Ziad Subhan said: "A group of Islamic terrorists, from ISIS, came into the café, armed with AK-47s, shooting at random at everyone who was inside".
Asked about the motives for the attack, AS reports the president said: "They don't like football, they think it's anti-Muslim.
"They just carry out attacks like this. This is a terrible tragedy".
The attackers fled and hours later one of them set off his explosive vest at a nearby vegetable market after police cornered him in a disused building.
A Real Madrid club statement said: "Real Madrid profoundly laments the terrible attack today in Iraq which has ended the life of 16 members of a Madrid fan club and that injured more than 20.
“The club expresses its total sadness and offers its thoughts and condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
“Real Madrid extends its solidarity to the people of Iraq, that suffers the injustice of extremist violence.
“The Real Madrid players will wear a symbolic black armband as a sign of mourning and respect, because football and sports will always be places of meeting, harmony and peace which no savage terrorism will overcome.
“Madrid fans around the world weep today for its fans, who will never be forgotten.”
The official Twitter account for La Liga posted on Twitter that it was "thinking of the victims and families".
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