A police officer sustained injuries and multiple arrests were made after disturbances erupted in London on Thursday night, triggered by France’s 2-0 victory against Morocco in a World Cup quarter-final held in Boston, USA. The clashes occurred on Edgware Road as fans and police engaged in confrontations.
Social media footage captured scenes of flares being ignited and objects hurled at officers in the street. The Metropolitan Police reported that four individuals were detained for violent disorder, and one officer was hospitalized due to a head injury caused by a glass bottle.
The police stated, “Officers were initially called after a group of people congregated in the road and blocked traffic. The incident then escalated with the group throwing bottles and setting off fireworks. As a result, further officers were deployed to the area. “One officer was taken to hospital for head injuries; it is believed he had been hit by a glass bottle. No other injuries were reported. Officers remained in the area and made four arrests for violent disorder, with the group dispersing and the road reopened from around 1am. “We will not tolerate such disorder on our streets, or attacks on our officers … we will be reviewing CCTV and video footage circulating on social media to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice.”
They added, “One officer was taken to hospital for head injuries; it is believed he had been hit by a glass bottle. No other injuries were reported. Officers remained in the area and made four arrests for violent disorder, with the group dispersing and the road reopened from around 1am.”
In a firm stance, the police emphasized, “We will not tolerate such disorder on our streets, or attacks on our officers … we will be reviewing CCTV and video footage circulating on social media to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice.”
Football-Related Incidents Recorded
The UK Football Policing Unit noted that there were 223 incidents linked to the England-Mexico match earlier in the week across England and Wales. Reports included six hate crime incidents and 32 cases of domestic abuse, culminating in 42 arrests associated with England’s dramatic win, during which pubs were permitted to serve alcohol until 5am.
Tragedy in France
In a separate incident in France, a 17-year-old girl tragically lost her life after falling from a truck while celebrating the team’s victory over Morocco. Emergency services reported that she “fell and was run over” by the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene in Aulnoye-Aymeries, near Maubeuge.
The truck driver has since been apprehended, and another teenager who witnessed the fall was taken to the hospital suffering from shock.
Celebrations Across France
Following the match, jubilant celebrations erupted throughout France, with hundreds of fans dancing in the streets of Paris, all under the watchful eyes of thousands of police officers assigned to maintain order.
