Violence flares during Portugal Invasion

RIOT police opened fire on hundreds of rampaging British revellers at a Portuguese resort.

At least 50 armed officers charged with flailing batons after a huge brawl broke out in Albufeira on the Algarve.

Cops then fired warning shots overhead to control the crowd.

The chaos erupted on Sunday during “Portugal Invasion” – a week-long event dubbed an “urban clubbing holiday”.

A 1,000-strong army of mainly British holidaymakers were dressed all in white for a themed clubbing night when the fighting started. Two Brits and two cops were hurt in the violence.

Residents who live close to the Oura strip, where the fighting broke out, accused the tourists of behaving like “animals”.

Liberto Mealha, owner of Kiss Disco and Liberto’s Bar where the trouble started, blasted the holi- daymakers. He said: “A group of around 1,000 British tourists, staying mainly at Clube Praia da Oura, have caused a lot of problems in the area.”

He claimed that there had been thefts in supermarkets and souvenir shops and damage to some rented scooters which they were driving without helmets or the proper licences. “It’s very hard to control this situation at night time,” he said.

“We had around 200 of these tourists in our bar and at one point a fight started between them. We called the police and the confusion spilled out on to the streets.”

He added: “We have our own security staff who stepped in to do what they could, but with such a big number the situation became uncontrollable.”

But some Brits accused the police of being heavy-handed.

A 21-year-old woman from London, called Chelsea, said: “The police officers started hitting people with batons. They were beating up girls and then started shooting and everyone scattered.

“It was madness. The police beat up innocent people who weren’t doing anything. I’ve got a friend whose leg is broken.”

Another British tourist was shooting a video when the police started firing.

She said: “Back here we have the battlefields of Portugal. Everyone’s fighting. Gunshots, thank you very much.” ON TOWN: Downing shots

‘BATTLEFIELD’: Riot cops fire warning shots as hundreds of Brits fight on the streets of the resort

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