FOOTBALL fans told today how their trip to Europe to follow their team turned into an horrific bloodbath after extremist hooligans went on the rampage.
Far-right Italian thugs known as "Ultras" were blamed for the violence which marred the build-up to Middlesbroughs Uefa Cup quarter-final tie against AS Roma.
Three fans from the North-East were stabbed and a further ten needed treatment for cuts and bruises after trouble flared at a fun pub in Rome city centre.
Police said masked hooligans armed with weapons threw flares and bottles into The Drunken Ship pub in the Campo dei Fiori piazza while Boro fans ate and drank last night.
It is said they then clashed with their rivals and attacked them with knives and small axes before local police were finally able to restore order.
Eye-witnesses said many of the supporters from England were in family groups and were peacefully enjoying their first night in the capital when "all hell broke loose".
One fan told The Northern Echo: "It was terrifying. It was like something out of The Gangs of New York. There was uproar. It was just carnage."
An Italian eye-witness said heavy-handed police were also to blame for some of the injuries suffered by the travelling supporters and accused baton-wielding officers of treating them "like beasts".
Following the outbreak of violence, officers from Cleveland Police who had travelled to monitor and prevent potential trouble, held a press conference.
Superintendent Steve Swales appealed for calm ahead of to nights game, and urged Boro fans not to seek revenge for the stabbings.
He also revealed that some of the "ultras" who covered their faces with crash helmets, scarves and bandanas had been carrying knives and small-handled hand axes.
Speaking from Rome, he said: "I believe they were being used as weapons and thats why we have got some of the injuries we have seen last night.
"Clearly people were terrified. They were running for their lives. I think we are lucky this morning, bearing in mind the weapons which have been used, not to have seen a fatality."
Last week, Supt Swales held a press conference on Teesside to warn Boro supporters about the dangers of the "ultras" and of travelling to the game alone.
One fan caught up in the trouble, Neil Andrews, 39, from Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, said: "We had all heard what the so-called group of ultras was capable of.
"You just hope that things like that dont happen because we have all come over here to enjoy Middlesbroughs big European night.
"It is sad that it has happened like it has. It was a crazy experience. The group of lads I was with managed to get away from it but there was totally no need for it.
"Everyone was just enjoying themselves and all of a sudden they charged even though many of the people in the pub were families.
"In the end, the police managed to push the English fans back inside the pub and managed to break up the fighting outside. It could have all got a lot worse."
However, an Italian bar worker who gave his name as Lorenzo, said: "The police came into the bar with batons and physically forced the fans, many of whom were families with wives and children, to get out of the bar treating them as though they were beasts."
As many as 200 of the travelling 3,500 Boro fans were drinking in the square and singing before police arrived and told them they were making too much noise.
Officers stayed nearby but when they moved to the other end of the piazza, more than 30 armed "ultras" wearing black and ski masks arrived and started throwing missiles.
Supt Swales said a handful of Boro supporters started fighting back, but, aware of the reputation the English have for trouble-making abroad, stressed that they were not to blame for the violence.
"Five arrests were made by the Italian police and the fact that all of them were Italian illustrates who is to blame for this situation. Im absolutely satisfied this situation was wholly orchestrated by them.
"There is a massive sense of relief that we are not dealing with a fatality. When knives and axes are being used, it really is lucky that there were no fatalities."
Last November, Breandan OConnor, 36, was killed and his 38-year-old pal Howard Boville was seriously injured in a stabbing after Boros game against AZ Alkmaar in Amsterdam.
The clubs first ever European match against Banik Ostrava in the Czech Republic last season was marred by fighting in the stands, while this season there have also been clashes in Zurich.
A 39-year-old man who had travelled to Rome with his 11-year-old son was the most badly hurt in last nights violence suffering knife wounds to his back.
An 18-year-old and a 31-year-old were also stabbed but were released from hospital after treatment. None of the injured were being named.
Was any member of your family or friends caught up in the violence in Rome? If you are worried about anyone in Italy ring our newsdesk on 01325 505054 or email us at newsdesk@nne.co.uk
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