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Leicester City fans 'charged at by Spanish police' | Leicester City fans 'charged at by Spanish police' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Leicester City fans were charged at and subjected to what appeared to be an unprovoked attack from Spanish police, a BBC journalist has said. | Leicester City fans were charged at and subjected to what appeared to be an unprovoked attack from Spanish police, a BBC journalist has said. |
BBC correspondent Phil Mackie said he witnessed the scenes in Madrid, where Leicester will play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final. | BBC correspondent Phil Mackie said he witnessed the scenes in Madrid, where Leicester will play Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final. |
He said he met supporters who had been left bruised after being hit on the head, arms and knees. | He said he met supporters who had been left bruised after being hit on the head, arms and knees. |
The Spanish press reported that eight Leicester fans were arrested. | |
Some fans were hit with batons and bundled into police vans, the correspondent added. | Some fans were hit with batons and bundled into police vans, the correspondent added. |
Mr Mackie told 5 live the trouble happened in the Plaza Mayor, in Madrid, where Foxes fans had been told they could gather. | Mr Mackie told 5 live the trouble happened in the Plaza Mayor, in Madrid, where Foxes fans had been told they could gather. |
He said: "I got down [to Plaza Mayor] and found a number of young Leicester fans with bruises, who had been hit on the head, arms, knees and a couple of them dazed. Some of them drunk as well. | He said: "I got down [to Plaza Mayor] and found a number of young Leicester fans with bruises, who had been hit on the head, arms, knees and a couple of them dazed. Some of them drunk as well. |
"As I was talking to them there was a charge. Police officers just charged a group of Leicester fans who were, as far as I could tell, just walking past and chatting to each other. | "As I was talking to them there was a charge. Police officers just charged a group of Leicester fans who were, as far as I could tell, just walking past and chatting to each other. |
"Three of them were pushed to the floor and hit with batons and bundled into the back of vans and taken away." | "Three of them were pushed to the floor and hit with batons and bundled into the back of vans and taken away." |
Aaron Richard Howells, who was in the square, said there was a lot of good-natured singing from supporters, but some younger fans got too close to police with their chanting. | Aaron Richard Howells, who was in the square, said there was a lot of good-natured singing from supporters, but some younger fans got too close to police with their chanting. |
He said: "We [witnessed] police targeting groups of people, smashing beers from tables, and even them throwing chairs towards the fans, as well charging with batons and riot shields." | He said: "We [witnessed] police targeting groups of people, smashing beers from tables, and even them throwing chairs towards the fans, as well charging with batons and riot shields." |
However, another supporter who was in the square said some ticketless fans told her they liked to make a nuisance of themselves and "expected trouble later". | However, another supporter who was in the square said some ticketless fans told her they liked to make a nuisance of themselves and "expected trouble later". |
Spanish newspaper, La Voz de Galicia, reported that eight fans had been arrested following clashes with police and that riot gear was used to disperse about 300 supporters. | Spanish newspaper, La Voz de Galicia, reported that eight fans had been arrested following clashes with police and that riot gear was used to disperse about 300 supporters. |
Leicestershire Police said it could not comment on what happened. | Leicestershire Police said it could not comment on what happened. |