At least 74 people were killed and over a thousand injured in clashes following a soccer match in the Egyptian city of Port Said on Wednesday evening. The ruling military council has announced an investigation. Some Egyptians believe the violence was politically motivated and planned in advance.

The violence on Wednesday night in the football stadium in the Egyptian city of Port Said was nothing short of a battle. At least 74 people are dead and the toll could still rise. Over a thousand were injured, many of them with life-threatening stab wounds.

There had been minor provocations during the game, but the real violence broke out seconds after the final whistle blew. Supporters of the home club al-Masry stormed the pitch immediately after the end of the game and attacked the opposing team al-Ahly, the current leader of the Egyptian league -- even though al-Masry had just won the game 3:1.

Footage from the incident showed fans chasing each other. According to Egyptian state television, al-Masry fans surrounded supporters of the opposing team, threw stones at them from close range and tried to stab them with broken glass bottles.

Al-Ahly's players and fans fled into the catacombs below the stands and tried to barricade themselves in dressing rooms. "One of the fans died there," said Ahmed Nagi, al-Ahly's goalkeeper coach, on Egyptian state television. "Hundreds of wounded people are lying in the hallways."