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Hundreds in Coventry city centre disorder Coventry city centre fight: hundreds dispersed
(about 6 hours later)
Police were called in to disperse a crowd of about 300 people after a series of fights broke out in Coventry. Five men have been arrested over a mass brawl in Coventry which started after fighting between two men inside a nightclub spilled on to the streets.
West Midlands Police said they were called after the large crowd gathered outside a nightclub holding a "pre-planned" club night. Police were called to disperse a crowd of about 300 people outside the Escape Club in Hales Street at about 0400 BST.
Five people were arrested in the "large-scale disorder" outside the Escape club, in Hales Street, at about 0400 BST. Dog handlers and a helicopter were deployed and the area was cleared by about 0500 BST. One officer was hurt.
The force helicopter and officers with dogs were deployed. BBC Coventry & Warwickshire presenter Marian McNamee, who witnessed the brawl, described a "swarm" of people.
One police officer received minor injuries. Police said crowds left the scene by about 0500 BST. One of the arrested men is from Essex, two are from London and one is from Northampton. It has not been confirmed where the fifth man comes from.
A police investigation is under way and witnesses are being urged to come forward. One of the men is said to be recovering in hospital.
Ch Insp Kerry Blakeman said: "On arrival our officers have been greeted by a large group that have actually left the club. West Midlands Police said the officer had received only minor injuries.
"The people that have been in the club have turned their focus on my police officers. 'Pockets of fighting'
'Pre-planned event' Ms McNamee, who along with fellow presenter Shane O'Connor was preparing for a radio show, saw a large crowd gathering in Hales Street.
"As a result of that we've managed to swiftly deal with an incident that took us about 45 minutes to disperse." She said: "We just saw a swarm of people completely fill this area right the way from the supermarket there down to the end of the park.
He added none of the people in custody were from Coventry but were from "all over the country". "People were spilling out of the club and within that there were pockets of fighting breaking out within different parts of the crowd."
"We believe this was a pre-planned event at the club," he said. Mr O'Connor said: "It looked like... one of those exercises with police and ambulance and fire service that they do, when there's a terrorism threat."
On social networking site Twitter people were talking about a "rave" event at the club, called "One Night Stand", which had got out of hand when fighting broke out. A police investigation is under way and witnesses have been urged to come forward.
One user said she felt scared and wanted to go home after glasses were smashed and thrown. Ch Insp Kerry Blakeman said: "We certainly weren't aware of the event before it occurred.
Attempts by the BBC to contact the club's owners were unsuccessful. "It would appear to be a gathering of people from across the country.
"It started off as a fight between two people within the premises that then spilled out on to the road.
'Rave' night
"My officers reacted quickly within 45 minutes to restore calm, making five arrests."
The force said it believed the crowd had gathered at the club venue for a specific club night.
On the social networking site Twitter, people were talking about a "rave" event at the club called One Night Stand which they said had got out of hand when fighting broke out.
One Twitter user said she felt scared and had wanted to go home after glasses were smashed and thrown.
Attempts by the BBC to contact the club's owners have been unsuccessful.