Hockey riot leaves teenager seriously injured
Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a crowd to break up a riot after a hockey game in Biel, where several people were hurt, including one seriously.
The fracas started in the arena in northwestern Switzerland around 10pm on Thursday, when rival fans clashed following Ambri-Piotta’s 4-2 victory over EHC Biel in overtime.
A 15-year-old was seriously hurt after an object was thrown at his face, Bern cantonal police said on Friday.
More fighting then erupted in the parking lot, but police dispersed the group after firing rubber bullets and tear gas into the melee. Fans then started damaging cars parked near the arena. By 11pm the fighting had ceased.
Police arrested several people who now face criminal charges. Authorities had beefed up their presence around the stadium after hooligans caused serious disruptions at a hockey game there last year.
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