French prosecutors have launched an attempted murder inquiry over attacks on two England soccer fans at the UEFA Euro 2016 soccer tournament which left the victims gravely wounded, they said on Thursday.
The announcement came as French and British authorities expressed relief that England’s victory over Wales in Lens passed without any serious spectator trouble.
The two England fans were among 35 people injured during three days of clashes in Marseille between England and Russia fans before their game on Saturday last week.
Photo: Reuters
One of the badly hurt fans, in his 50s, is reported to have been hit on the head with an iron bar.
“We are still looking for those responsible for these events which are considered attempted murder,” Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said.
Investigators are studying security camera footage to track the attackers.
Robin said the Marseille violence “was in large part provoked by particularly violent Russian supporters who wanted to show their supremacy over the English supporters.”
French riot police fired tear gas and baton charged beer-fueled England fans in Lille on Wednesday night when they crossed with Russian, Wales and Slovak fans in the city. Thirty-six arrests were made and 16 people were injured.
However, England’s 2-1 victory over Wales in the nearby city of Lens on Thursday passed without serious incident.
Before the game started, Lens had looked like a town under siege, with groups of riot police with batons and shields dotted throughout the town monitoring the boisterous British visitors.
At Le Corner bar, England and Wales fans who had been drinking together since morning said they felt safe in each other’s company after the violent brawls between English and Russian fans in Marseille.
Kevin English, a 53-year-old plumber from Durham, was on his second pint of the day at 11am.
His right eye was still bruised and he had a cut above his left eye after a beating by Russian supporters in Marseille.
“I was by myself having a drink when a group of Russians came out of nowhere and attacked me. They stamped on me. I have bruises all over my body,” he said.
“England and Wales have been united by the Russian violence,” said Jon Hebbes, who is half-English and half-Welsh, but rooting for England.
At least three England fans in their 50s were seen sporting black eyes suffered in Marseille.
“I’m 53, fat and slow and I’d had too much to drink, which is why they targeted me,” said one man with a tanned and lined face who gave his name only as Rob. “But I got a few [punches] in myself.”
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