Policeman held over Uefa violence - 23rd Feb 2009 1:35pm
A police officer has been arrested on suspicion of being involved in a violent football riot following a Uefa cup match in Manchester.
The man arrested, a serving officer with Essex Police, was identified as a suspect from CCTV images published on Greater Manchester Police website.
Detectives used the photos to trace 49 men following disorder by Rangers fans after cup final game on 14 May 2008.
Greater Manchester Police said the man, 44, has been bailed until 2 June.
Trouble began before kick-off in the game between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.
An estimated 150,000 Rangers fans descended on Manchester for the final, which Rangers lost 2-0.
Officers in Manchester then got a tip-off that one of the suspected hooligans was a fellow policeman.
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "The 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and has been released on bail pending further inquiries.
"The arrested man is a serving Essex police officer and was off-duty at the time of the incident."
The police officer was captured on CCTV cameras as fans clashed with police in central Manchester.
Two officers were injured after being attacked by hooligans, one fan was stabbed, and many more suffered minor injuries.
There was also damaged to cars and bus stops in the city centre.
THE BBC
The man arrested, a serving officer with Essex Police, was identified as a suspect from CCTV images published on Greater Manchester Police website.
Detectives used the photos to trace 49 men following disorder by Rangers fans after cup final game on 14 May 2008.
Greater Manchester Police said the man, 44, has been bailed until 2 June.
Trouble began before kick-off in the game between Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.
An estimated 150,000 Rangers fans descended on Manchester for the final, which Rangers lost 2-0.
Officers in Manchester then got a tip-off that one of the suspected hooligans was a fellow policeman.
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "The 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and has been released on bail pending further inquiries.
"The arrested man is a serving Essex police officer and was off-duty at the time of the incident."
The police officer was captured on CCTV cameras as fans clashed with police in central Manchester.
Two officers were injured after being attacked by hooligans, one fan was stabbed, and many more suffered minor injuries.
There was also damaged to cars and bus stops in the city centre.
THE BBC
