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Police study CCTV after violence
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Police are studying CCTV footage in a bid to identify the football hooligans involved in disturbances in Belfast that left eleven officers injured.
Nine people were arrested in the disturbances that marred the build-up and aftermath of Northern Ireland's crucial 3-2 victory over Poland at Windsor Park. Five have since been released without charge.
Rival fans fought with each other and clashed with riot police in sporadic confrontations across Belfast throughout yesterday.
A city centre bar was badly damaged when chairs were thrown through the window and the Tates Avenue area close to the ground was sealed off as police came under attack from fireworks, traffic cones, bricks, bottles and other missiles.
A number of homes were also targeted in what police described as racially motivated incidents.
While Northern Ireland has a sizeable resident Polish population, police believe the troublemakers on the Poland side were a "hard core" element who did not live in the country and travelled for the game without tickets.
Local police commander superintendent Chris Noble said he was concerned about reprisal attacks against the local Polish community.
"We believe there was a hard core of Polish nationals who came to the game without tickets but with a very clear intent to cause trouble and disruption to genuine supporters and local residents," he said.
"We believe these troublemakers are not local; they have travelled to Northern Ireland with the express purpose of causing trouble. "Unfortunately their actions may well have put the safety of law abiding and local Polish residents in jeopardy.
