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Euro 2016 violence: Police arrest 36 over Lille disorder | Euro 2016 violence: Police arrest 36 over Lille disorder |
(about 5 hours later) | |
At least 36 people have been arrested in Lille following clashes between French police and football fans at the Euro 2016 tournament. | |
French police said the arrests had been made throughout Wednesday - adding that 16 people had been hospitalised. | |
On Wednesday night, riot police charged at hundreds of England football fans as flares and bangers were set off. | |
The BBC's James Reevell said tear gas had been used by riot police and it was mostly England fans involved. | |
Earlier, some English and Russian supporters had been detained after scuffles. | |
England and Wales will play each other in the nearby city of Lens at 14:00 BST. | |
However, thousands of the teams' supporters have been staying in the larger city of Lille ahead of the match. | |
Russian and Slovakian supporters are also in Lille, after their game at the city's Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday. | |
It follows clashes between mainly English, Russian and French fans in Marseilles at the weekend. | |
The Russian football team was given a suspended disqualification from the tournament following attacks by their supporters on England fans in Marseille. | |
Uefa also threatened to disqualify England from Euro 2016 if there was any further violence by fans. | |
At the scene | At the scene |
By James Reevell, BBC News, in Lille | By James Reevell, BBC News, in Lille |
Darkness brought a dramatic escalation in tensions between English fans and French police. | Darkness brought a dramatic escalation in tensions between English fans and French police. |
Hundreds of supporters engaged in scuffles with the police, who used tear gas, flash bangs and baton charges to disperse them. | Hundreds of supporters engaged in scuffles with the police, who used tear gas, flash bangs and baton charges to disperse them. |
The fears earlier in the day had been of attacks by hardcore Russian hooligans, but this was very much an English problem. | The fears earlier in the day had been of attacks by hardcore Russian hooligans, but this was very much an English problem. |
They sang their chant "Please don't send me home" and threw bottles in challenge at the police. | They sang their chant "Please don't send me home" and threw bottles in challenge at the police. |
After funnelling fans down the city's streets, the police withdrew and some fans were left to stay in the city centre, if in a less boisterous mood. | After funnelling fans down the city's streets, the police withdrew and some fans were left to stay in the city centre, if in a less boisterous mood. |
It's unclear what caused the situation to escalate, as earlier in the day the police had been happy to contain the fans and keep them separate. | It's unclear what caused the situation to escalate, as earlier in the day the police had been happy to contain the fans and keep them separate. |
The city was tense, but disturbances were low-key, with running battles quickly stopped by the police. | |
Now the fear is what will happen when ticketless fans watch the England v Wales game in the city tomorrow. | Now the fear is what will happen when ticketless fans watch the England v Wales game in the city tomorrow. |
French authorities said those arrested on Wednesday included six Russians involved in the violence in Marseille. | |
Another five people were arrested for public drunkenness on a train from London that was stopped before it got to Lille and then allowed to continue. | |
Earlier on Wednesday, hundreds of England fans were surrounded by riot police in the city's main square. | Earlier on Wednesday, hundreds of England fans were surrounded by riot police in the city's main square. |
They were then pushed back into the corner of the square by police in riot gear, before the square was cleared. | |
England supporter Oliver Larkworthy, from Norwich, is in Lille and was caught up when police fired tear gas at fans at the city's railway station. | |
"I saw a massive crowd running down the street - English fans, Slovakian fans and locals mainly, a real mix," he said. | "I saw a massive crowd running down the street - English fans, Slovakian fans and locals mainly, a real mix," he said. |
"There is a massive mob of Russian fans standing outside the station just waiting to cause trouble. The whole thing is a disaster waiting to happen. It's like a massive tinder box waiting to go off any minute." | "There is a massive mob of Russian fans standing outside the station just waiting to cause trouble. The whole thing is a disaster waiting to happen. It's like a massive tinder box waiting to go off any minute." |
Six England fans, aged 20 to 41, have received jail sentences ranging from one to three months in relation to disorder surrounding the England-Russia game, which finished 1-1 on Saturday. | |
On Wednesday, Russia's foreign ministry summoned the French ambassador to Moscow, as well as sharply criticised policing at the Euro 2016 tournament. | |
"Further stoking of anti-Russian sentiments... could significantly aggravate the atmosphere in Russian-French relations," the ministry said. | "Further stoking of anti-Russian sentiments... could significantly aggravate the atmosphere in Russian-French relations," the ministry said. |
Michel Lalande, prefect of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Picardy region, said a drinking ban was in place in some parts of central Lille and the stadium. | Michel Lalande, prefect of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais Picardy region, said a drinking ban was in place in some parts of central Lille and the stadium. |
Shops selling alcohol in the city closed from 18:00 local time (17:00 BST) on Tuesday and will reopen at 06:00 (05:00 BST) on Friday, he said. | Shops selling alcohol in the city closed from 18:00 local time (17:00 BST) on Tuesday and will reopen at 06:00 (05:00 BST) on Friday, he said. |
However, the BBC's Geraint Owen, in Lille, said small supermarkets were still selling alcohol on Wednesday afternoon, and drinking was taking place openly on the streets. | However, the BBC's Geraint Owen, in Lille, said small supermarkets were still selling alcohol on Wednesday afternoon, and drinking was taking place openly on the streets. |
Vince Alm, of the Football Supporters' Federation Cymru, said the ban was not enforceable. "There are so many outlets around it's impossible," he said. | Vince Alm, of the Football Supporters' Federation Cymru, said the ban was not enforceable. "There are so many outlets around it's impossible," he said. |
Fans are being discouraged from travelling if they are without a ticket to the England-Wales game, and the authorities had also asked those with a ticket to delay travel until the day of the game. | Fans are being discouraged from travelling if they are without a ticket to the England-Wales game, and the authorities had also asked those with a ticket to delay travel until the day of the game. |
Those without match tickets can watch the match in the city's fan zone, where lower-strength beer will be sold. | Those without match tickets can watch the match in the city's fan zone, where lower-strength beer will be sold. |
Mr Lalande also said anyone carrying out violence would be removed from the country. | Mr Lalande also said anyone carrying out violence would be removed from the country. |
British Transport Police officers travelled with fans on Eurostar trains on Wednesday. | |
Eurostar is running some alcohol-free services, with no alcohol allowed through check-in or purchased at departure lounges or on board. | Eurostar is running some alcohol-free services, with no alcohol allowed through check-in or purchased at departure lounges or on board. |
Are you in Lille? Have you been affected? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in Lille? Have you been affected? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |