Police hunt fans after Blues-Villa derby trouble
Sep 22 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail
POLICE want to speak to these 22 men following football violence that caused terror for motorists and shoppers after the recent Blues and Villa derby.
The faces were seen on CCTV and police video footage as fighting broke out following Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory over Birmingham City nine days ago.
Officers came under a barrage of bricks and bottles as they tried to keep rival fans apart during clashes near St Andrew’s stadium immediately after the final whistle. But sporadic violence continued into the city centre, where traffic was brought to a standstill near Selfridges during running fights.
A taskforce has spent the past week poring over video footage to identify suspected troublemakers.
Today, officers released to the Birmingham Mail these images of men, most of them purporting to be Blues fans, who they want to question.
Det Chief Insp Matt Markham, from Stechford police, said: “There is no place for the kind of indiscriminate violent behaviour we saw after the game.
“I’d rather not have to deploy officers on the streets in riot gear before, during and after matches but on occasions am forced to do so to deal with the type of people intent on causing trouble.
“The majority of people attending the match behaved perfectly well, but the small minority who brought shame to their city will be brought to justice.”
He said some the men caught on camera were wanted for questioning over criminal damage caused to the cars of frightened motorists caught up in the trouble away from the ground. Some were also suspected of public disorder offences and assault.
Det Chief Insp Markham said: He added: “The message is very clear - if you are one of these people caught on camera then speak to us before we come to find you.
