Trouble before regional soccer game Rot-Weiß Essen soccer club fans riot in Bonn city centre
Bonn · 50 fans from the Rot-Weiß Essen soccer club went on the rampage in Bonn city centre on Saturday before the regional league game between Bonner SC and Rot-Weiß Essen at Sportpark Nord.
A large squad of police temporarily cordoned off Mauspfad in the city centre. Police said on Sunday that 50 so-called problem fans had arrived by train from Essen at around 10.55am and were in the city. Police also said there was a fight around 12.40pm on the Münsterplatz between fans from Bonner SC and the Essen club. Police arrived with several vehicles and were supported by additional officers.
Some fans ran into the post office on the Münsterplatz and 35 Essen fans retreated into an Irish pub in Mauspfad. The police then secured Mauspfad and officers took the personal details of all those involved.
One fan, who had attacked and slightly injured a policeman, was taken into police custody and only released after the game. By the time police had taken the personal details of all those involved, the game had already started. Police escorted the Essen fans to the main train station and put them on trains to Dortmund and Essen.
After the game, which ended with a score of 3:3, around 20 Essen problem fans travelled from the stadium to the main station by tram. Police said they had abused several passengers and one passenger had filed a complaint. Police said a total of 112 officers were on duty for the football game.
(Original text: Tabea Herrmann and Lisa Inhoffen. Translated by Kate Carey)
