Warsaw arrests pass 100 mark

12 June 2012 21:19

Over 100 people have now been arrested in serious disturbances prior to the start of the Euro 2012 clash between Poland and Russia in Warsaw, police in the city have confirmed.

In a statement, the force also confirmed 10 people have been injured - seven Polish, two Russians and one German - but cited medical agencies in claiming none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

Trouble flared despite an unprecedented security operation in the Polish capital, with a number of separate incidents reported in the build-up to the match at the National Stadium.

Officers from the Anti-Riot Unit and the Criminal Department are involved in the ongoing operation, and the police said they expected the number of arrests to continue to grow.

A Warsaw police spokesperson told Press Association Sport: "We are still monitoring the situation and trying to identify the supporters involved. The operation is not over from our side as we continue in our attempts to catch those who are causing trouble."

Thousands of Russian fans marched towards the National Stadium to mark Russia Day, considered a provocative gesture by some Poles whose nation was subjected to decades of rule by Moscow during the Cold War.

One particular flashpoint was the Poniatowski Bridge in Warsaw, where Russian fans responded to taunts from their Polish counterparts by allegedly hurling missiles.

Source: PA