Blasts heard as Fiorentina yobs attack West Ham fans in Prague
Huge fights have broken out between West Ham and Fiorentina fans in Prague ahead of the Europa Conference League final.
Police have said that at least 16 people have been detained after the violence erupted at around 3pm today.
In a statement on Twitter, the force said Italian fans attacked West Ham supporters in a bar in Rytirska Street with three people injured while a police officer was also assaulted.
According to a translation, the statement said 16 people had been detained while police investigate, with a picture showing several people on the floor of a shop with their hands bound as officers stood over them.
Brawls broke out in the street just hours before the final tonight, with video footage posted online showing Fiorentina fans throwing chairs at West Ham supporters, with smoke bombs and flares also being used.
The celebratory mood in Prague turned sour as Hammers fans drinking in a bar were attacked by a group of Italians clad in black clothing and masks.
As word spread that fans were being assaulted, West Ham fans moved towards the bar – and a group of riot police moved in to prevent the two groups clashing further.
One West Ham fan who witnessed the scenes told the Mail Online: ‘They targeted a group and attacked them quite violently then ran off before anyone could react. It was completely unprovoked.
‘They were all ultras dressed in black. It was pretty grim.’
Around 100 West Ham fans attempted to run towards the bar where their fellow fans were said to have been attacked but were kept at bay by around 50 police officers, some armed with automatic rifles and batons.
The ultras attempted to escape the police and ran through a busy paved shopping area.
Some ran through the outside tables of a café where many people were dining, causing crockery, glasses and bottles to smash as tables were overturned.
It comes after similarly-cald hooligan supporters of AZ Alkmaar tried to get at West Ham players’ families in chaotic scenes at the end of the semi-final in Holland.
Riot police have been on standby in the hours ahead of tonight’s kick-off.
Earlier, one fan was detained by police for letting off an orange flair in the square, but later released after a ticking-off.
More than 10,000 West Ham fans were gathering in the fan zone to watch the match on a giant screen.
Supporters of their Italian rival without tickets were led to a separate fan zone.
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