Violence Erupts Ahead of England vs Serbia Euro 2024 Match in Gelsenkirchen

Violent clashes marred the prelude to England‘s opening Euro 2024 match against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. The disturbance, involving English and Serbian fans, led to the arrest of seven Serbian citizens and left a police officer injured amidst chaotic scenes at a restaurant terrace.

On the outskirts of Gelsenkirchen, a brawl erupted at the Hirt Steakhouse, where supporters from both sides were gathering before the anticipated match. Videos circulating on social media captured the mayhem, with overturned tables, chairs, and bottles strewn across the area.

Both fan groups were eventually separated by authorities, with German riot police swiftly intervening. The altercation resulted in the apprehension of the Serbian individuals, with the motive behind the violence still under investigation.

Witnesses recounted a chaotic scene with claims that Albanian fans may have been involved in provoking the altercation, although definitive nationalities of those participating remain unconfirmed.

Meanwhile, in Hamburg, just hours before the Netherlands–Poland clash at the Volksparkstadion, police had to intervene in a separate incident where an individual armed with an axe-like object and a Molotov cocktail was shot in the leg. The altercation occurred near the city’s fan park in the St Pauli district, adding to the tense atmosphere surrounding the ongoing Euro 2024 matches.