Riot police clash with English fans in the Algarve

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2004

LISBON (AFP) — Portuguese police arrested 12 people in the Algarve resort town of Albufeira after some 200 mainly English football fans clashed with riot police.

It was the first major disturbance involving English fans since the Euro 2004 finals started last Saturday.

Riot police, aided by a contingent of officers on horseback, were called in to help disperse the group of rowdy fans after they blocked traffic and threw glasses, bottles and chairs at police in the main strip of the town, national guard spokesman Manuel Jorge said Tuesday.

"Everything began with small incidents but at a certain point the crowd started to get hostile towards the police and reinforcements were called in," he told AFP.

Ten of those arrested were British citizens, one was...