Mayhem as gang of ‘fans’ run amok
TROUBLE erupted on the streets of Manchester city centre ahead of the derby match.
Dramatic pictures and footage showed a gang of around 40-50 men wearing black storming their way down Bengal Street in Ancoats.
One man was viciously beaten to the ground and stamped on. Traffic cones and road signs from a nearby building site were hurled across the road.
The gang chanted City songs and set off a blue flare.
They fled in different directions as police arrived.
Images taken just afterwards show officers with batons drawn facing off against the yobs.
Some men were pinned to the ground by police, others handcuffed and led away with bloodied faces.
Police dogs and the mounted unit were also drafted in.
At least two dozen men were surrounded on a nearby street by around 30 officers.
One witness, who lives on Bengal Street, described what happened. He said: “It was completely quiet one minute, then the next there was all this shouting. I looked out of the window and people were fighting and throwing signs and setting off flares.
“Some had cuts and were bleeding. Then police came and they all ran off.”
Superintendent Chris Hill, match commander for the Manchester derby, said: “At such a critical point in the season, there was a lot to consider in policing the derby, but the match has gone well with only a handful of arrests.
“By working closely with the clubs and supporter groups, we have been able to minimise disruption around the city centre to ensure nothing stopped fans from enjoying the muchanticipated match.
“While a small number of people were involved in a disturbance earlier, this was managed swiftly, allowing the rest of the supporters to come together and watch the game in a safe environment.
“I’d like to thank the thousands of fans who came to the match, and the people in the city centre, for their cooperation and support throughout this exceptional Derby.”
Eight arrests were made in total. Three men were arrested on suspicion of affray, two men were arrested on suspicion of ticket touting, one man was arrested on suspicion of public order, one teenage boy was arrested on suspicion of breaching a dispersal order, and one man was arrested on suspicion of breaching a banning order.