Three British hooligans have slipped into Germany despite a massive security
effort by both countries to keep out troublemakers before the World Cup, which
starts Friday.
Michael Waldheckler, of the ZIS police agency, said Wednesday the three had
already been spotted by police, who are monitoring their movements. He did not
say where in Germany the hooligans turned up.
"They came to our attention," Waldheckler said. "They have been sufficiently
checked out and we will continue to look into it."
Waldheckler said the three were among 3,500 British hooligans ordered to
surrender their passports prior to the tournament. So far, 180 of those have not
done so.
A spokesman for Germany's border patrol, Wolfgang Sommerer, told the AP that
nine people have been turned away at the border in the past few days for various
reasons, including three British citizens. He did not say if any were known
hooligans. He also declined to give any other details.
British police officers were on patrol on the streets of Germany on Wednesday
ahead of Saturday's World Cup game between England and Paraguay.
Two officers from the British Transport (railway) Police _ a man and a woman
_ walked around the streets of downtown Frankfurt along with two German police
officers as England fans continued arriving for the game.
There were double takes from the locals around Frankfurt's main railway
station as the two British officers, dressed in their regular blue and white
uniforms, walked alongside the local police, who were dressed in their usual
green uniforms.
"We're expecting more than 40,000 England fans for the game," Frankfurt
police spokesman Peter Freier told The Associated Press.
Police sported body armor and were supported by private security guards
patrolling the banks of the River Main on Wednesday, clear signs officials are
prepared to head off fan violence before this weekend's England-Paraguay game.
Across a city known more for its skyscrapers and banks, scores of England
supporters began arriving for Saturday's Group B opener.
More than 100,000 England fans are expected in Germany for the World Cup,
with only 10,000 or so actually holding tickets for games. Frankfurt is a
transit hub, with its international airport the second-busiest in Europe.
