Group of football fans chase two men ‘after one was seen with knife’
The men can be seen cowering behind a bin as they're pelted with bottles.
This shocking video shows a large crowd of Coventry City fans chasing two men through the streets while hurling abuse at them.
One of them can be seen hiding behind a recycling bin while he is pelted with objects. People in the crowd can be heard saying ‘he’s got a blade’, although this has not been confirmed. A man can be heard shouting ‘f*****g n****r’ in a separate clip of the attack shared on social media.
West Midlands Police rushed in and put themselves between the crowd to stop any further disorder. The two men were searched by officers and escorted off the scene.
The force say a knife was later recovered from a bin and officers will be carrying out CCTV inquiries today. The clash kicked off at around 9.15pm as Coventry City fans filled the streets to celebrate the club’s promotion to the Championship.
It follows Black Lives Matter protests on Sunday as hundreds gathered in the city centre demanding an end to police brutality and systemic racism.
Sharing the video of the attack on social media, local Louise Kathleen said: ‘Actually embarrassed of my city to be honest. City of culture my arse. So much effort, hard work and passion was put in on Sunday to enforce a peaceful protest for a GENUINE cause (BLM).
‘I’m assuming a light part of it was for the uneducated d**kheads like the fair few football hooligans that I’m seeing various videos off trying to make a mockery of it!’
Ms Kathleen added: ‘I’m going to refuse to believe that a “second wave of COVID” is going to be from the thousands of people who wore masks and didn’t invade people’s space to peacefully demonstrate a cause over the hundred-ish twats that are congregating , slurring their words and spitting at each other with every S they pronounce. Actually can’t believe the city I live in.’
In a statement this morning West Midlands Police said: ‘Several hundred people met in Broadgate from 5pm to celebrate news that Coventry City FC had been promoted to the Championship.
‘The gathering was good natured until around 9.15pm when some of the group chased two men who were not part of the gathering. It’s alleged one of the two men brandished a knife towards the group.
‘Our officers put themselves between the crowd and the two men to prevent further disorder. Bottles and other missiles were thrown but no-one was injured; a window was broken during the disturbance.
‘Both men were searched and escorted away from the scene. A knife was later recovered from a bin and CCTV enquiries will be progressed today.’
Coventry Police Superintendent Phil Healy, said: ‘Our officers acted with great courage to put themselves between the group and the two men to prevent the situation escalating further.
‘I would like to pay credit to the professionalism they demonstrated in what was clearly a very challenging situation.
‘This type of disorder is totally unacceptable and we have launched an enquiry into the violence and the damage to property. We will also be investigating suggestions that the men were armed with a knife.’
The force said an intoxicated 17-year-old man was taken to hospital after falling and suffering a head injury.
A statement from Coventry City Football Club said: ‘We have passed reports of these videos to West Midlands Police and will liaise directly with them regarding these.
‘CCFC are clear and long-standing in our anti-racism and discrimination stance and our support for Kick It Out – both shown most clearly in our 2 Tone shirt this season – and more recently the Black Lives Matter campaign.’
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