Bar brawl involving England and Serbia fans prompts huge police response before Euro 2024 match

A scuffle between England and Serbia supporters escalated this afternoon in Gelsenkirchen.

Armed police descended in droves on Weberstrasse as the clash resulted in tables and chairs being hurled. No fewer than 22 police vans converged on the scene, with officers streaming towards the station.

The ruckus didn't disrupt England fans at the Post Hornchun pub, who continued singing amidst the commotion. One spectator commented: "It was nasty but small fight. But it ended up with a chase before the police finally calmed it."

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Baffled residents observed from their apartments as skirmishes unfolded. According to an English police source, the fracas began with England fans attacking Serbs, who subsequently retaliated, reports the Mirror.

A Birmingham fan found himself embroiled, suffering a bloody head wound; he was tended to by medical staff yet declined to disclose his identity to the authorities.

This disturbance involving England and Serbia fans unfolded following an incident in Hamburg, where local police shot an individual purportedly armed with an "axe-like object" and a "Molotov cocktail" just hours before the city played host to its first tournament match.

The German city’s police force said that the man threatened officers and, after efforts to negotiate failed, he was then shot in the leg. This event occurred close to the fan park of the St Pauli district, nearly two-and-a-half hours before the Netherlands faced off against Poland at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion.

Hamburg police have released a statement where they explained: "According to current findings, a man came out of a locality around 12:30pm (CET) and threatened police forces with a pickaxe/axe-like object. He was asked by them to drop this item.

"He also threatened the police officers with a Molotov cocktail in his hand, which he did not drop despite being asked and continued to walk towards the officers.

"The police then used their service weapon and shot him in the leg. This prevented further attacks and no emergency services or other bystanders were injured.

"The police officers immediately provided first aid, which was continued a short time later by medical personnel. The man is currently receiving further care in a hospital."

Earlier on social media, images had been circulating showing throngs of Netherlands fans in Hamburg who were revelling in anticipation of the Group D opener. The event occurred in proximity to where numerous Dutch supporters had congregated, though at this stage, police are unable to confirm if the football fans were the intended target.

The statement concluded: "A football connection cannot currently be determined, nor are there currently any insights into other motivations."