Fans warned of 'offensive action'
Chairs were thrown by rival fans in the Schlossplatz
Officers in Stuttgart will take "offensive action" against aggressive behaviour ahead of England's World Cup tie with Ecuador, police have warned.
Police chief Erwin Hetger said there would be a more visible presence following arrests of up to 250 England fans overnight after trouble flared up.
The arrests were made after chairs and bottles were thrown by rival fans in Stuttgart's main square.
Some 60,000 England fans are expected in the city for Sunday's match.
On Saturday night, England supporters were arrested after being held together by riot police in a corner of the Schlossplatz.
It all changed when the English fans arrived. The atmosphere changed
Erwin Hetger
Stuttgart police
Standoff in the square
The square was filled with thousands watching the Argentina vs Mexico match on the big screen.
BBC News's Claire Heald said that as German fans were leaving the square following Germany's win over Sweden, a small group confronted England fans.
Missiles were thrown and riot police, some on horseback, then created a barrier to keep the fans about 50m apart.
During the clash, several English and German fans exchanged punches and one man in a Germany shirt was seen with his face covered in blood, the Press Association news agency reported.
Total arrests
Later on Saturday night, police had surrounded fans in the square before gradually leading them away.
By midnight, police had arrested 150 England fans who were being held together in a corner of the city's main square.
That figure was expected to rise to 250.
Detained England fans - including a further 122 arrested in Stuttgart on Friday night - are likely to be held in custody until Monday night.
Arrested fans could miss Sunday's England match
Mr Hetger said: "We had no problems at all with the French, Swiss and Dutch fans that were having a great party here.
"It all changed when the English fans arrived. The atmosphere changed."
He praised the help he had received from the British police who are in Germany for the tournament.
The arrests in Stuttgart more than doubled the number of UK citizens held so far during the World Cup.
Total arrests of all nationalities during the tournament stand at more than 4,000.
England are due to play Ecuador at 1600 BST.
Why does there always have to be a small amount of people acting like a bunch of twats.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5114024.stm
Chairs were thrown by rival fans in the Schlossplatz
Officers in Stuttgart will take "offensive action" against aggressive behaviour ahead of England's World Cup tie with Ecuador, police have warned.
Police chief Erwin Hetger said there would be a more visible presence following arrests of up to 250 England fans overnight after trouble flared up.
The arrests were made after chairs and bottles were thrown by rival fans in Stuttgart's main square.
Some 60,000 England fans are expected in the city for Sunday's match.
On Saturday night, England supporters were arrested after being held together by riot police in a corner of the Schlossplatz.
It all changed when the English fans arrived. The atmosphere changed
Erwin Hetger
Stuttgart police
Standoff in the square
The square was filled with thousands watching the Argentina vs Mexico match on the big screen.
BBC News's Claire Heald said that as German fans were leaving the square following Germany's win over Sweden, a small group confronted England fans.
Missiles were thrown and riot police, some on horseback, then created a barrier to keep the fans about 50m apart.
During the clash, several English and German fans exchanged punches and one man in a Germany shirt was seen with his face covered in blood, the Press Association news agency reported.
Total arrests
Later on Saturday night, police had surrounded fans in the square before gradually leading them away.
By midnight, police had arrested 150 England fans who were being held together in a corner of the city's main square.
That figure was expected to rise to 250.
Detained England fans - including a further 122 arrested in Stuttgart on Friday night - are likely to be held in custody until Monday night.
Arrested fans could miss Sunday's England match
Mr Hetger said: "We had no problems at all with the French, Swiss and Dutch fans that were having a great party here.
"It all changed when the English fans arrived. The atmosphere changed."
He praised the help he had received from the British police who are in Germany for the tournament.
The arrests in Stuttgart more than doubled the number of UK citizens held so far during the World Cup.
Total arrests of all nationalities during the tournament stand at more than 4,000.
England are due to play Ecuador at 1600 BST.
Why does there always have to be a small amount of people acting like a bunch of twats.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5114024.stm
