Tensions escalated into violence in central Gelsenkirchen today as clashes broke out between football fans ahead of a highly anticipated game. Eyewitness reports indicate that a group of fans initiated the conflict by attacking others with bottles in a side street, leading to a chaotic scene where chairs were thrown, and tables toppled.
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The altercation quickly turned into a running battle, with one group of fans chasing another down the street while riot police attempted to intervene. The disturbance drew a significant response from law enforcement, with hundreds of riot police deployed and approximately 22 vans heading towards the area closest to the train station.