Rockets fired from away end: Police and Hannover 96 condemn derby violence
Hannover fans fired pyrotechnics into home areas during Braunschweig's 2-0 derby win. A spectator and a police officer suffered minor injuries, and police said they would pursue those responsible.
Archive image · Photo: Brunsviga / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
The Lower Saxony derby in Germany's second division between Eintracht Braunschweig and Hannover 96 was overshadowed by violence. According to Braunschweig police, pyrotechnics were repeatedly fired from the away section into the neighbouring home area in stoppage time, targeting spectators, stewards, police and paramedics. A spectator and a female police officer were slightly injured by rockets. Referee Tobias Reichel halted the match, which Braunschweig won 2-0, for several minutes.
Police said around 800 officers from the Braunschweig police and about 300 federal police officers were deployed. Before the match, four people were injured by fireworks set off from within a march of around 2,000 Braunschweig supporters, and an employee of transport operator BSVG was taken to hospital with injuries. "I condemn the behaviour of the Hannover fans in the strongest terms," said Thomas Ring, president of the Braunschweig police directorate. Police said the attacks would be pursued consistently.
Hannover 96 called the incidents in the away end an "unacceptable escalation". The club announced consequences and said it would actively help identify those responsible. "They knowingly endangered the health of other people," the statement said.