German hooligans battle World Cup police
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-15 07:49

DORTMUND, Germany - Five days of opening World Cup calm ended with a volley of bottles and chairs as dozens of German hooligans clashed with police Wednesday before their country's pivotal win over Poland.


German soccer police officers arrest a soccer fan after some clashes.[AP]

For much of the day, German police worked with their counterparts from neighboring Poland to identify and arrest traveling troublemakers without incident. It was homegrown hooligans who lashed out about two hours before the late evening kickoff after police confronted them in a central square.

By the time rain began falling after midnight, police said they had arrested 240 German hooligans ¡ª at least 120 in the central square ¡ª and 60 Polish hooligans.

The threat of fan violence had been a theme ahead of the monthlong soccer tournament. To head off trouble, authorities across Europe confiscated passports of known troublemakers, increased border patrols and drew up extensive policing plans for the dozen game cities.

While much of the focus was on the English, Dutch and Polish, some German officials worried about thugs who wouldn't have to travel.

"What gives me headaches sometimes is thinking about how we are going to keep our own 10,000 hooligans in line," Michael Endler, who heads Germany's office for sports information, warned before the competition.

Tranquility in World Cup-hosting cities had allayed much of the fear over widespread hooliganism at soccer's biggest event and even surprised police who had braced for the worst.

The trouble began Wednesday when police spotted about 40 men, later described as hardcore hooligans, and blocked the route between the outdoor area where they sat drinking and a nearby big screen where games are shown for free.

As police began apprehending the men they screamed, "We are Germans, too. We want to go to the big screen," according to witness Cristel Lorenz.

Some started throwing bottles and chairs and shooting fireworks; backup police arrived, as did more hooligans, said Lorenz, who was rushed to the safety of a nearby restaurant. Police hauled handcuffed men into a bus outfitted with individual cells.

No officers were injured, police said. At least one hooligan was seen receiving treatment for facial cuts.
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