There had been clashes between two large groups of people and a police operation was underway, said a spokesman for the Gelsenkirchen police in the late afternoon. Violent Englishmen are said to have attacked Serbian fans. The groups threw chairs at each other and shouted at each other before the police intervened. According to a WDR reporter on site, there was blood on the chairs and on the floor.
Riots in Gelsenkirchen before European Championship match
According to the police, the situation is under control and details are still being clarified. There is no reliable information yet on possible injuries or how many people have been arrested. According to WDR information, a group of Serbian fans were led from the scene towards the stadium by the police. Numerous videos are also circulating on the X platform, which are said to show fans attacking each other in Gelsenkirchen city centre.
The match on Sunday evening between England and Serbia at 9 p.m. was already announced in advance by the UEFA classified as a high-risk party. Only beer with a low alcohol content is available there. The hooligan scene is particularly pronounced in both camps. The police are in the city with a large number of forces.
Our sources:
- News agency dpa
- Social media platform X