Police appeal for witnesses or footage of Marseille attacks on England fans

Police are appealing for witnesses or footage to help catch the hooligans who attacked England fans in Marseille on Saturday June 11.

England fans were targeted ahead of the Euro 2016 Group B game against Russia in an orchestrated, prolonged attack that resulted in 14 supporters being hospitalised.

The UK Football Policing Unit investigation team has gathered lots of moving and still images from the disorder in France. This evidence was collected by English and French police football spotters in Marseille and shows large-scale clashes between English and Russian fans.

An appeal has now been made to people who were there and may have witnessed something as they could have vital information, photos or video footage which will help ascertain what happened and who was involved.

Police are also appealing for any witness or footage of an attack on Stewart Gray from Leicester. Gray was part of a group in the Rue Forte Notre Dame area at around 2.30pm and was wearing a blue T-shirt. He was then found injured not far from this location at 4pm, but there is no footage which shows what happened.

Detective Superintendent Andy Barnes, who is leading the UKFPU investigation, said: "Please come forward if you have any information, photos or video of what happened in Marseille.

"We particularly need footage to help us understand how Stewart Gray became so badly injured. We are aware that there were people in the apartment above the incident who we would like to speak to as witnesses. They were seen to be taking video footage and this could be crucial evidence. If you recognise yourself or someone you know in this footage, then please get in touch."

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for football policing, said: "The violence in Marseille was highly organised and those involved appeared determined to carry out sustained attacks at a level of aggression I have not encountered in the past 10 years.

"We are very aware that this involved a small minority of English supporters. Investigations will continue and these fans could be subject to a football banning order on their return to the UK.

"Our investigation team is on hand to assist the French police in any way that we can to ensure those involved are identified and prevented from engaging in further disorder."

Also on Thursday, a man was given a five-year football banning order at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court after being photographed appearing to throw a missile during the fighting in Marseille.

Joe Pizarro, 34, from Kennington, was identified by Met Football Intelligence Officers from footage taken by French police during disorder on June 10.

Barnes said: "The vast majority of travelling British fans are well behaved and in France to enjoy the tournament. Sadly a small minority have engaged in disorder. This will not be tolerated.

"By acting quickly we have prevented this man from travelling back to France to cause more trouble. What's more, he will not be able to cause trouble at games in the UK either."

The UKFPU investigation team can be contacted via 0208 246 0076 or centralfootballunit@met.pnn.police.uk.