Football arrests: 18 down, 55 to go

POLICE hunting football hooligans after last year’s Uefa Cup riots in Manchester have made eight more arrests.

It brings the total arrested so far to 18 — 15 from Scotland, two from the North-West of England and one from Essex.

In a joint operation yesterday, involving Greater Manchester, Strathclyde and Lothian and Borders police forces, officers arrested eight people on suspicion of violent disorder.

They have been taken to Chadderton police station — purely for logistical reasons, according to police chiefs — for questioning.

They include a 25-year-old man from Glasgow, a 29-year-old man from Airdrie, a 17-year-old youth and a 16-year-old boy, both from Ruchazie, Glasgow, a 42-year-old man from Dalkieth, a 27-year-old man from Haddington, East Lothian, a 20-year-old man from Shotts and a 24-year-old man from Airdrie.

Five men arrested on Monday have now been bailed until either June 2 or 7, pending further enquiries.

The five others arrested over the past six weeks in connection with the disorder have also been released on bail until June 2.

They include a 20-year-old man from Burnage, Manchester and a 34-year-old man from Chorley, Lancashire.

Police chiefs say they are tracking 55 other suspected hooligans and have warned of further arrests in the coming weeks.

The arrests all relate to violent disorder in the city centre and one incident inside the City of Manchester Stadium. An estimated 150,000 Rangers fans came to Manchester for the Glasgow club’s match with Russian side Zenit St Petersburg on May 14, last year.

Many supporters had been drinking heavily all day before rioting broke out after a big screen in Piccadilly Gardens failed, shortly before the 7.45pm kick-off.

Hundreds of Rangers fans clashed with police in running battles in Manchester city centre.

GMP launched Operation Gale and were inundated with calls from the public after posting CCTV photographs of dozens of people believed to have been involved, which were printed in the Chronicle.

Members of the public were thanked for the response, without which the arrests would not have been made.

Anyone with information should call the dedicated hotline on 0161 856 4034.