According to German media reports on Thursday, a group of Russian soccer hooligans making their way home from the Euro 2016 tournament attacked and injured several tourists in front of the Cologne Cathedral in western Germany.
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A police source told TASS that seven Russian fans “attacked three Spaniards outside the Cologne cathedral”.
Police are investigating whether the suspects were involved in other disturbances during the European Championship in France.
The Russians belongings were inspected following their arrest, with police finding tickets for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with England in Marseille, while a police spokesperson confirmed that the supporters were set to travel back to Russia from Cologne later on Thursday evening.
Five of the attackers were arrested on the scene, with a sixth accomplice who initially escaped being arrested by police on Friday. Another man was arrested as he prepared to board a flight to Ibiza, Spain, and was taken to a police station.
“And with that, we have them all”, a police spokesman said upon the arrest of the last man.
The suspects were drunk and found to have tickets to Russia’s matches as well as face masks and mouth guards that police regarded as typical hooligan gear. The fans had arrived from Marseille, France, where fighting between Russian and English fans supporters marred the build-up to their Euro 2016 clash.
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Twenty Russian fans have so far been deported from France, while another three have been jailed.
