Photos have emerged of a number of Liverpool fans being attacked by hooligans in Kiev just two nights before the Champions League final.
Ukrainian police, who confirmed two people had been arrested in relation to the incident, said it was being treated as ‘group hooliganism’ after two people they described as ‘foreigners’ were injured.
The fracas, which occurred around 11pm local time on Thursday, happened while Liverpool fans were at a restaurant in the Ukrainian capital.
Liverpool fans were attacked by a group of hooligans in Kiev ahead of Champions League final
Some alleged perpetrators are pictured during the ugly fracas in the Ukrainian capital
A man is arrested following the incident, which occurred at around 11pm on Thursday
Blood streams down the head of one of the Liverpool fans as he is tended to outside the venue
The supporters were forced to hide inside the Rooster Grill restaurant — which is just 200m away from the NSC Olimpiyskiy, where Saturday’s final will take place — using chairs and tables to protect themselves from their attackers.
Ukraine police also said the victims and the alleged attackers refused to offer statements.
Ukrainian police say the two arrested people face fines and they have opened an investigation on a charge of ‘hooliganism’ and are trying to identify and track down other participants in the fight.
Mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, has said that the Liverpool fans were attacked like a ‘pack of dogs’ and told the Liverpool Echo that security was ‘a main priority’.
Police surround the suspect following the incident at Roosters Grill restaurant in Kiev
The event took place just 200m away from NSC Olimpiyskiy, where the final will be played
A suspect is taken to the ground and detained by police outside the Kiev restaurant
Ukrainian police detain another suspect before disclosing that two people have been arrested
‘Security for us is a main priority and we know what happened last year in Paris,’ he said.
‘Right now more than 10,000 police man are watching and controlling the city and thousands of volunteers.’
The attack will raise fears of further trouble and violence ahead of Saturday’s game, with even more Liverpool fans expected to arrive.
The reports of fan violence came just hours after the club’s stars arrived in Kiev as they reach the finishing stretch of their preparations for the biggest game of their season.
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