World Cup fans arrested

MORE than 300 people were arrested as the worst violence of the 2006 World Cup so far broke out in Dortmund before Germany’s game with Poland, it emerged yesterday.

Trouble flared in the city centre where thousands of German and Polish supporters had spent Wednesday afternoon drinking heavily in a square.

Hundreds of riot police were deployed as thugs threw bottles and chairs at police and each other in Dortmund’s Alter Markt.

The problems began when riot police moved in to the square to arrest a group of known German hooligans, including skinheads and some with neo-Nazi tattoos, who had been identified by spotters.

The police were met by groups of German fans chanting and throwing bottles and other groups of drunken supporters then also attacked the police.

Dozens were arrested, cuffed with plastic ties and placed in two large green prison buses. At least one had face injuries.

Then, as large numbers of fans moved towards the nearby Friedens-Platz, where a giant screen was about to show the game, there were several fights between Polish and German fans who threw bottles and punches at each other.

Several German fans were wrestled to the ground by police, handcuffed and placed in the prison vans.

Later, special police units, armed and dressed in body armour and balaclavas, chased hooligans through the Hansa-Platz square and side streets.