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| Scotland and England fans clash before World Cup qualifier Scotland and England fans clash before World Cup qualifier | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Scuffles have broken out in Trafalgar Square on Armistice Day as thousands of football fans descended on London before the England v Scotland World Cup qualifier. | Scuffles have broken out in Trafalgar Square on Armistice Day as thousands of football fans descended on London before the England v Scotland World Cup qualifier. |
| Blood pouring from one fan’s leg covered a saltire flag as paramedics attended a person with concussion, and at least one person was taken by ambulance from the scene where thousands of Scotland fans had gathered. | Blood pouring from one fan’s leg covered a saltire flag as paramedics attended a person with concussion, and at least one person was taken by ambulance from the scene where thousands of Scotland fans had gathered. |
| Blue flare smoke hung in the air and the sound of breaking glass could be heard as police intervened in a standoff between a group of England fans and a handful of Scotland supporters. | Blue flare smoke hung in the air and the sound of breaking glass could be heard as police intervened in a standoff between a group of England fans and a handful of Scotland supporters. |
| About 14,000 of the “Tartan Army” were expected in London for the sellout game at Wembley stadium, which kicks off at 7.45pm on Friday. | About 14,000 of the “Tartan Army” were expected in London for the sellout game at Wembley stadium, which kicks off at 7.45pm on Friday. |
| Fans in the central London square chanted, sang songs and waved flags, with many climbing on to Nelson’s Column. | Fans in the central London square chanted, sang songs and waved flags, with many climbing on to Nelson’s Column. |
| There had been no arrests as of 4.30pm, the Metropolitan police said, but there was an increased officer presence in the square. | There had been no arrests as of 4.30pm, the Metropolitan police said, but there was an increased officer presence in the square. |
| Public toilets had to be closed at 4.30pm after equipment was kicked and tiles pulled off, police and workers said. | Public toilets had to be closed at 4.30pm after equipment was kicked and tiles pulled off, police and workers said. |
| Superintendent Alex Carson, who is co-ordinating the British Transport Police operation, said: “We want fans to enjoy themselves and for everyone to have a safe and peaceful journey, but we will have a highly visible policing presence to ensure any anti-social behaviour or crime is swiftly nipped in the bud.” | Superintendent Alex Carson, who is co-ordinating the British Transport Police operation, said: “We want fans to enjoy themselves and for everyone to have a safe and peaceful journey, but we will have a highly visible policing presence to ensure any anti-social behaviour or crime is swiftly nipped in the bud.” |
| Kenny Petrie, 45, said: “We travel for games as a group quite often – this year we’ve been to France, Prague and Malta. We’ve never had any trouble in England, but there is more friction in Europe, like at the Euros. England are trying to escape the hooligan stereotype. We just want a peaceful game and a Scottish victory.” | Kenny Petrie, 45, said: “We travel for games as a group quite often – this year we’ve been to France, Prague and Malta. We’ve never had any trouble in England, but there is more friction in Europe, like at the Euros. England are trying to escape the hooligan stereotype. We just want a peaceful game and a Scottish victory.” |
| Andy Robbins, 48, a football coach, said: “It’s a double-edged sword, Remembrance Day. If anything does happen, it’ll be tainted by who’s to blame. With regards to the football, I think England expect too much.” | Andy Robbins, 48, a football coach, said: “It’s a double-edged sword, Remembrance Day. If anything does happen, it’ll be tainted by who’s to blame. With regards to the football, I think England expect too much.” |
| Bars at both Euston and King’s Cross, including the Scottish Stores pub, were teeming with kilt-clad members of the Tartan Army in good spirits. | Bars at both Euston and King’s Cross, including the Scottish Stores pub, were teeming with kilt-clad members of the Tartan Army in good spirits. |
| A Scotland fan was searched by police then arrested and taken away in handcuffs. | A Scotland fan was searched by police then arrested and taken away in handcuffs. |
| The square, which had been full for most of the afternoon, started to thin at about 5.30pm with hundreds making their way onto the tube. Cracked bottle-necks and empty cans crunched underfoot as they left the square. | The square, which had been full for most of the afternoon, started to thin at about 5.30pm with hundreds making their way onto the tube. Cracked bottle-necks and empty cans crunched underfoot as they left the square. |
| Scores of people came down from the column, leaving a sea of shattered glass, wet cardboard and spilled alcohol on the landmark. | Scores of people came down from the column, leaving a sea of shattered glass, wet cardboard and spilled alcohol on the landmark. |
| One of the lions flanking Nelson’s Column had a traffic cone placed on its head mirroring the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow. Passerby Nicoletta Morelli said: “It’s not so nice to see London like this. I have not forgotten the hooliganism of British fans in Rome.” | One of the lions flanking Nelson’s Column had a traffic cone placed on its head mirroring the Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow. Passerby Nicoletta Morelli said: “It’s not so nice to see London like this. I have not forgotten the hooliganism of British fans in Rome.” |
| Gillian Johnson, a heritage warden with the GLA, said it was terrible, adding: “It’s really not fair, this is supposed to be a public place.” | Gillian Johnson, a heritage warden with the GLA, said it was terrible, adding: “It’s really not fair, this is supposed to be a public place.” |
| A foreman cleaning the mess said he had come to “expect this level of mess” when football fans are in town. | A foreman cleaning the mess said he had come to “expect this level of mess” when football fans are in town. |
| By 6pm the scene was empty as fans started to make their way to Wembley. Men with large brushes swept away the debris as a strong smell of stale alcohol lingered in the air. Empty bottles lined the pool rims of the two fountains, which had been switched off after they were filled with washing up liquid by Scottish fans three years ago. | By 6pm the scene was empty as fans started to make their way to Wembley. Men with large brushes swept away the debris as a strong smell of stale alcohol lingered in the air. Empty bottles lined the pool rims of the two fountains, which had been switched off after they were filled with washing up liquid by Scottish fans three years ago. |
| There were two arrests in Trafalgar Square today, one on suspicion of common assault and the other on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, the Met said. | There were two arrests in Trafalgar Square today, one on suspicion of common assault and the other on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, the Met said. |