WEST HAM INVOLVED IN RIOT
From the Guardian:
Two West Ham fans have been arrested and another injured after "a huge battle" with Palermo supporters in Sicily last night. The violence started around midnight and continued for more than an hour as rival groups threw bottles and chairs at each other in Palermo's Teatro Massimo.
Two West Ham fans have been arrested and another injured after "a huge battle" with Palermo supporters in Sicily last night. The violence started around midnight and continued for more than an hour as rival groups threw bottles and chairs at each other in Palermo's Teatro Massimo.
It took police in riot gear more than an hour to bring the situation under control, during which six fans - one Briton and five Italians - were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police finally managed to calm the situation and the West Ham fans were put on three buses and driven away from the centre. Two West Ham fans, aged 41 and 32, were arrested on charges of assault and resisting arrest.
A police spokesman confirmed: “We had been alert already ahead of tonight's Uefa Cup match and now we will be increasing security. The clashes were in the city centre between two groups of fans and left the streets covered in glass.
“Bottles, cans, glasses and chairs were thrown by both groups - it was a huge battle which took more than an hour to control. We would appeal for both sets of fans to keep calm and not react to provocation from opposition fans.”