Police arrest 10 as fans wreck beer hall in Munich

Police in Munich have arrested 10 people following clashes between England and German football fans.

A beer hall was wrecked as tension between fans escalated just hours before the key World Cup qualifier.

A street near the train station was also closed after 100 police officers broke up fighting between rival fans.

"It was a lot of people involved, but we don't have any hard figures yet. But the mood in the city is getting noticeably more aggressive," said Andrea Hartenberger, Munich police spokeswoman.

Three fans were injured, being hit by thrown glasses and chairs, as about 50 fans from the two countries clashed at the Augustiner Bierhalle, a well-known beer hall in the downtown shopping district.

A few hours earlier, 40 fans vandalised a room in the beer hall, smashing windows, table and chairs. They left the scene before police arrived.

"We expect about 1,000 English hooligans and 1,000 German hooligans, but it's hard to say how many are here because they're spread all over the city," said Albert Lachner, Munich police spokesman.

"But it's clear they're pretty drunk and getting more aggressive," he added of the fans.

Munich police had arrested just five English fans and one German for fighting before noon, but many hooligans streamed into the town during the day, leading to 35 arrests.

"We're expecting violent-prone fans from every direction in Germany. But we're in contact with out border patrol -and we're ready for everything," said Munich police spokesman Andreas Ruch.