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Eleven held in football violence | Eleven held in football violence |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Eleven people have been arrested after up to 100 football hooligans were involved in a brawl in Coventry. | Eleven people have been arrested after up to 100 football hooligans were involved in a brawl in Coventry. |
Police believe the violence which flared in Earlsdon High Street - six miles from Coventry City's Ricoh Arena - was pre-arranged. | Police believe the violence which flared in Earlsdon High Street - six miles from Coventry City's Ricoh Arena - was pre-arranged. |
Witnesses reported seeing men on mobile phones shortly before trouble broke out, hours before Coventry's match with Leicester City. | Witnesses reported seeing men on mobile phones shortly before trouble broke out, hours before Coventry's match with Leicester City. |
Knives were seized by the police and one man suffered minor head injuries. | Knives were seized by the police and one man suffered minor head injuries. |
A police spokesman said CCTV footage of the incident, which happened at 1130 GMT, was also being studied. | A police spokesman said CCTV footage of the incident, which happened at 1130 GMT, was also being studied. |
This was a determined effort to cause violence Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hyde | This was a determined effort to cause violence Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hyde |
Witnesses described "hordes" of men spreading out across the street and throwing bricks at each other. | Witnesses described "hordes" of men spreading out across the street and throwing bricks at each other. |
The trouble is believed to have started outside Earlsdon's City Arms pub. | |
One eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: "We've never had anything like this before in this area. | One eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said: "We've never had anything like this before in this area. |
"I saw a load of men, probably in their 50s, on phones and it was obvious they were planning something, then it all kicked off. | "I saw a load of men, probably in their 50s, on phones and it was obvious they were planning something, then it all kicked off. |
"The police moved in swiftly but we've got absolutely no idea why it happened here." | "The police moved in swiftly but we've got absolutely no idea why it happened here." |
Another said: "One came up to us with blood on his knuckles and asked if we had a local cab number, so we told the police to go and get him." | Another said: "One came up to us with blood on his knuckles and asked if we had a local cab number, so we told the police to go and get him." |
Although Earlsdon, a residential suburb, is miles from Coventry's ground, it is within walking distance of the city's main railway stations. | Although Earlsdon, a residential suburb, is miles from Coventry's ground, it is within walking distance of the city's main railway stations. |
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hyde of West Midlands Police said: "This was a determined effort to cause violence and our response has been swift. | Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hyde of West Midlands Police said: "This was a determined effort to cause violence and our response has been swift. |
"It does emphasise the need for extra police resources on match days and in and around football grounds. | "It does emphasise the need for extra police resources on match days and in and around football grounds. |
"It is very unusual for disorder to break out in the Earlsdon area, and all indications at the moment suggest that the violence was planned. | "It is very unusual for disorder to break out in the Earlsdon area, and all indications at the moment suggest that the violence was planned. |
"While the majority of football fans are law abiding, police will deal robustly with the minority intent on causing violence and disorder." | "While the majority of football fans are law abiding, police will deal robustly with the minority intent on causing violence and disorder." |