More than 200 officers from the Central Investigation Bureau have detained 26 stadium hooligans in a joint raid launched in the northern city of Bydgoszcz.

The officers waged a war against football hooligans at the beginning of the year, right after breaking up an ultras group in the western city of Poznan. A similar operation in Bydgoszcz followed.

On Wednesday morning, officers from the Central Investigation Bureau raided several apartments in Bydgoszcz and neighbouring towns, detaining 26 people, including Marek G. alias “Maras”, leader of the hooligans from Bydgoszcz, and his colleagues nicknamed “Mite”, “Long”, “Hooligan”, “Neo”, “Wasp”, “Hero” and “Boxer”. The men may face up to three years in prison for starting fights.

The investigation into arranged fights between hooligans from different cities was opened after police had discovered a link between drug dealers and football hooligans. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau were tipped about an arranged fight between hooligans from Poznan and Bydgoszcz which took place on 6 September 2008.

As many as 140 hooligans participated in the massive fight. Those who were detained Wednesday are the “leading hooligans”, as described by the Central Investigation Bureau. Most of the detainees had criminal records. (mg/jb)

Source: TVN24