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Fans attack police with fireworks | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Football fans threw fireworks at police after Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier against Poland in Belfast. | |
Between 50 and 60 Northern Ireland fans clashed with police at a roundabout at the bottom of Tates Avenue, outside Windsor Park football ground. | |
Police said nine people, the majority of them Polish, were earlier arrested after trouble at a city centre pub. | |
The match, which Northern Ireland won 3-2, was briefly halted after an object thrown from the crowd hit a linesman. | |
Riot police | |
Fireworks, bricks and bottles were thrown between the two sets of fans outside the stadium, and it is understood several people were injured during the disturbances. | |
Clashes broke out between fans along the route to the match | Clashes broke out between fans along the route to the match |
Riot police in armoured Land Rovers were deployed as fans made their way to the ground, and residents were advised by police to stay indoors. | |
During the game play was suspended for five minutes after a linesman was hit on the head with a small object thrown from the crowd. | During the game play was suspended for five minutes after a linesman was hit on the head with a small object thrown from the crowd. |
Northern Ireland Sports Minister Gregory Campbell, who was at the game, told BBC News one confrontation began after some Polish supporters unfurled a republican flag. | |
He said: "There were some Polish fans who introduced one of the Irish republican flags, that are supportive of the group that killed the soldiers and the policeman a few weeks ago, which obviously then led to even more tension. | |
"I suspect and heard that there were further scenes of violence then immediately after the game." | |
Premises closed | |
Trouble started in the city centre shortly before 1500 GMT on when Northern Ireland and Poland fans gathered in the same Wetherspoons pub on Bedford Street. | |
A Wetherspoons spokesman said he understood it began following an "altercation between a Polish fan and a local". | |
The spokesman estimated damage which could run into thousands of pounds was caused, and the premises was closed. | |
The Polish fans were kept inside the ground for nearly an hour after the match, which kicked-off at 1715 GMT. | |
The incidents marred a great result for Northern Ireland, who moved to the top of their World Cup qualifying group. |