Essen (dpa / lnw) – Four federal police officers were injured in clashes between fan groups at Essen’s main train station on Saturday. Because of the operation, rail traffic was disrupted for hours, as reported by Deutsche Bahn. The main station was temporarily closed.
According to the federal police, around 180 fans of Rot Weiss Ahlen and Preußen Münster met around 5:30 p.m. Bottles and cans were thrown on both sides. Federal police officers tried to prevent fans from being physically attacked, but there was resistance in which colleagues were injured, the federal police said.
The Essen police, who came to support the federal police officers, determined the personal details of everyone involved and initiated several criminal proceedings, it said.
Deutsche Bahn initially announced that long-distance trains would be held back. There are cancellations and delays. Later in the evening it was said that long-distance trains would be diverted if possible – and would not stop at the main stations in Essen and Bochum. Around 9:30 p.m., the train tweeted: “Police operation in Essen Hbf completed. Other long-distance trains are running again on the planned route.”
