The head of Britain’s Euro 2016 policing operation has hit out at the Russian football fans behind the scenes of violence in Marseille – and vowed to help search for them, reports The Guardian.
Assistant chief constable Mark Roberts said the attacks were the most serious and coordinated he had seen in 10 years specialising in football violence.
He told how British police spotters saw some Russia fans “tooling up” with gum shields, fingerless martial arts gloves and bandanas.
Roberts, who is in charge of Britain’s police operation in France, said: “England has had its problems with hooligans in the past. But the Russians are entirely different – they are like nothing we have seen before. They are highly organised and determined to carry out sustained violent attacks at a level of aggression I have not encountered in the past 10 years.
“Our spotters in Marseille saw them putting in gum shields and putting on martial arts gloves and bandanas before attacking England fans in the port.
“We know some were carrying knives because one England fan was stabbed. They wore a kind of uniform – all in black t-shirts and clothing and most carried bum bags, possibly to conceal weapons.
“Their attacks were prolonged and well orchestrated and left 14 England fans hospitalised. I cannot recall such a toll of serious injuries and this is a cause for serious concern.”
He added: “When they began their assaults they were extremely well orchestrated and came into the square seeking confrontation with England fans or anyone else in their path.
“Speaking candidly, it is clear there was a small minority of England fans who were in Marseille to cause trouble. Some of the English were guilty of anti-social behaviour.
“But there was a far larger hard core of Russian troublemakers we would estimate at around 300.
“They targeted English fans when the majority of them were decent people in Marseille to enjoy a drink and the football.”
Roberts said teams of specialist British police spotters on the quayside in Marseille observed a “perfect storm” of clashes.
Some Paris Saint-Germain football fans travelled to clash with a group of Olympique de Marseille fans, as England and Russia fans fought nearby.
About 2,000 England football fans have been issued with banning orders to block their travel to France, due to past offences. But no such bans have been placed on Russia’s Ultra Elite group.
Roberts said: “The situation in Marseille was probably unique. There has never been such a toxic mix in terms of football violence.
“Our primary concern going forward is for the safety of UK citizens at later stages in the tournament.
“Travelling England fans should be wary that they may encounter Russians in Lille this week as the teams have games a few miles apart.