Arsenal footie fans ‘attacked rival supporters using street signs, rubbish bins and metal chairs during 40-man street brawl’
CCTV footage shows 'pre-planned' gathering of mob outside Anderlecht fans' hotel near King's Cross station before brutal fight involving 'flying kick' which knocked a man out
ARSENAL fans attacked rival supporters using street signs, rubbish bins and metal chairs as weapons during a "large scale street fight", a court heard today.
The mob were caught on CCTV aiming punches and kicks at fans from Belgian side Anderlecht in running battles at London's King's Cross station, Blackfriars Court was told.
The group had been boozing at the George pub, in Holloway, north London, after watching Arsenal's 3-3 draw in the Champions League, at the Emirates Stadium, in November 2014.
They confronted away fans staying at the four-star Megaro Hotel where one Anderlecht supporter was left unconscious after being hit with a "flying kick", the jury heard.
Prosecutor Noel Casey said: "There were two rival groups of supporters, one from Arsenal, one from Anderlecht, who got themselves into a fight.
"During the fight, metal chairs, signs and street furniture is used as weapons. Members of the public were caused to fear for their safety."
Footage from around the hotel captured around 40 men fighting for several minutes before police arrived at around 11pm
Mr Casey told the jury the Arsenal fans had been at the match at the Emirates where the Gunners managed to draw despite being 3-0 up after 60 minutes.
He said: "There’s a degree of pre-planning about this incident, it wasn't entirely spontaneous.
"It wasn't one bunch of Anderlecht supporters walking down the road and a bunch of Arsenal fans by chance also walking down the street, and they came together by coincidence.
"These defendants made that journey at that time of night all the way down to King's Cross and specifically to the Megaro Hotel."
He said the Arsenal fans used street signs, bins and chairs as weapons.
Some were caught on camera kicking and punching while others were filmed gesturing, egging on and goading, the jury was told.
Harry Fricker, 25, of Kentish Town, north London, Harry Powell, 25, of Tufnell Park, north London, Perry White, 26, of Harlow, Essex, Sean McGinn, 29, of Hornsey, north London, Nicholas Maynard, 30, of Dunmow, Essex, and Paul Wright, 39, of Erith, south east London, all deny violent disorder.
Jurors were told a seventh man, Jamie Millar, 31, has been identified through CCTV as "running forward and taking a flying kick at a man", but is not on trial.
The trial continues.
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