Throwing bottles and fireworks: Several injured in the riot of Cologne fans


Throwing bottles and fireworks
Several injured in the riot of Cologne fans

FC Köln has the worst starting position of all relegation candidates at the beginning of the last day of the Bundesliga. Pyrotechnics are burned down before the kick-off. After being rescued from relegation, some supporters apparently lose their nerve.

According to the police, several police officers, football fans and a journalist were injured in riots after the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Cologne and FC Schalke 04 (1-0). As the police announced, those involved in both camps suffered lacerations, cuts and bang trauma in the clashes between the police and fans. An employee of the WDR had been injured by being beaten and kicked by an attacker, and other journalists had reported “targeted harassment and intimidation attempts”.

The police arrested 24 rioters and took seven of them into police custody. They are all now being investigated for breach of the peace. After pyrotechnics and firecrackers were detonated again and again before the game when the Cologne team arrived, the police had already issued refusals and, among other things, initiated investigations into violations of the Explosives Act.

Towards the end of the game, according to the announcement, a group of several hundred people set off pyrotechnics and shielded each other with their bodies. After ignoring instructions to refrain from doing this and to keep the distance, the police pushed the group to the nearby Jahnwiese. “When the eviction began, rioters threw glass bottles and firecrackers at the officials from the crowd,” the statement said. And further: “The evaluation of the video recordings and witness statements with regard to concrete acts is ongoing.”

The victory against Schalke, which secured a goal in the 86th minute, saved themselves as table 17. Cologne went into the game in the relegation. The game was played without a spectator.

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