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Euro 2016 violence: Police charge at fans and fire tear gas in Lille | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
French police have charged at hundreds of England football fans in Lille as flares and bangers were lit in the latest scenes of disorder at the Euro 2016 tournament. | |
The BBC's James Reevell said tear gas was used by riot police and it was mostly England fans that were involved. | |
Earlier, some English and Russian fans were detained after scuffles. | |
England and Wales supporters are in the city ahead of the teams' match in nearby Lens on Thursday. | England and Wales supporters are in the city ahead of the teams' match in nearby Lens on Thursday. |
Russian and Slovakian fans are also in Lille, after their match at the city's Stade Pierre-Mauroy. | Russian and Slovakian fans are also in Lille, after their match at the city's Stade Pierre-Mauroy. |
Our correspondent in Lille said England fans had been singing songs taunting the police. | |
"It makes a dramatic escalation in tension in the city," he said late on Wednesday. | |
"The streets are calmer now but large of numbers of fans are still on the street." | |
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. |
The fans were then pushed back into the corner of the square by police in riot gear, before the square was cleared. | |
England fan 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." |
The Russian football team have already been given a suspended disqualification from the tournament following attacks by their supporters on England fans at their opening fixture in Marseille on Saturday. | The Russian football team have already been given a suspended disqualification from the tournament following attacks by their supporters on England fans at their opening fixture in Marseille on Saturday. |
And the Russian foreign ministry has summoned the French ambassador to Moscow after it sharply criticised policing at the Euro 2016 tournament. | And the Russian foreign ministry has summoned the French ambassador to Moscow after it 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. |
Six England fans were jailed following Russia and England's draw in Marseille on Saturday. | Six England fans were jailed following Russia and England's draw in Marseille on Saturday. |
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, says small supermarkets were still selling alcohol on Wednesday afternoon, which is being drunk openly on the streets. | However, the BBC's Geraint Owen, in Lille, says small supermarkets were still selling alcohol on Wednesday afternoon, which is being drunk 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. |
England fans are being discouraged from travelling without a ticket, and the authorities are asking fans if they can wait to travel on Thursday to watch the Wales game. | England fans are being discouraged from travelling without a ticket, and the authorities are asking fans if they can wait to travel on Thursday to watch the Wales game. |
Those without tickets can watch the match in the city's fan zone, where lower-strength beer will be sold. | Those without 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 have been travelling with fans on Eurostar trains on Wednesday. | British Transport Police officers have been travelling 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 |