| Hateland -
Articles |
04/05/02
- Millwall thugs on rampage
By ANDY WILKS, DUNCAN LARCOMBE and HANNAH MacLACHLAN
The Sun
SHOPS were torched and cars smashed with bricks last
night as furious Millwall thugs went on the rampage.
The soccer hooligans had running battles with police
after their side dramatically LOST their bid for a chance
to win promotion to the Premiership.
Mounted cops and police helicopters were sent to the
First Division’s New Den stadium in South London
at the end of their play-off clash with arch-rivals
Birmingham City. Five officers were injured and terrified
old folk living near the ground watched in terror as
bricks and missiles were hurled by the mob.
The crowd was inflamed by the injury-time winner, the
only goal of the game, scored by Trinidad and Tobago
international Stern John. Jessy Loub, 79, sobbed as
she watched the violence from a balcony of her sheltered
accommodation.
She told The Sun last night: “We’ve had
trouble here before but nothing has come close to this.
This is the worst we’ve ever seen.” The
frail pensioner added: “This is horrible. I saw
police horses charging down the streets. There were
bangs going off and screaming.”
Neighbour Mary Litchfield said: “I saw a shower
of bricks raining down on the police and the cars parked
in the roads. “The crowds were like ants, they
were coming from every back alley and dark street.
“It looks like this may have been organised because
it has just erupted. “The Cliftonville Pub, which
now is used as a furniture shop, was set on fire. I
saw a car pushed on to its roof and set on fire.”
The winner of the game plays Norwich for a Premiership
place. Bad blood between Millwall and Birmingham dates
back to a Division One game in Birmingham in 1995 when
rival supporters clashed. Past trouble between the sides
had limited tickets for away fans at both legs of this
semi-final.
A spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said: “At about
10pm a crowd of 50 people began throwing missiles in
Ilderton Road. Flares and fireworks were also thrown
and a car was set alight.
“One police officer was kicked by a police horse.”
The trouble is thought to have started in Verney Road
— just 100 yards from the stadium. An hour and
a half after the game ended the Birmingham team were
still holed up in the stadium because police feared
for their safety |
| Contact : bernard.omahoney@bernardomahoney.com |
|
|
|
