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Euro 2016 violence: Police arrest 36 over Lille disorder | Euro 2016 violence: Police arrest 36 over Lille disorder |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least 36 people have been arrested in Lille in a day of recurring clashes between French police and football fans at the Euro 2016 tournament. | At least 36 people have been arrested in Lille in a day of recurring clashes between French police and football fans at the Euro 2016 tournament. |
French police said the arrests had been made throughout Wednesday and added that 16 people had been hospitalised. | |
On Wednesday evening, riot police charged at hundreds of England football fans as flares and bangers were lit. | On Wednesday evening, riot police charged at hundreds of England football fans as flares and bangers were lit. |
The BBC's James Reevell said tear gas had been used by riot police and it was mostly England fans that were involved. | |
Earlier, some English and Russian fans were detained after scuffles. | 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 on Wednesday. | Russian and Slovakian fans are also in Lille, after their match at the city's Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday. |
At the scene | |
By James Reevell, BBC News, in Lille | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
The city was tense, but disturbances were low-key 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. | |
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. | 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. | 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, 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 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 |