Liverpool fans jubilant after Premier League
title win as police warn of Covid-19 risks
As a huge crowd celebrated outside Anfield, Merseyside
police said the region had a responsibility to prevent the coronavirus spread
Martin
Farrer and agencies
Fri 26 Jun
2020 06.11 BSTLast modified on Fri 26 Jun 2020 06.27 BST
As a huge
crowd sang songs and let off flares outside Anfield, Merseyside police
assistant chief constable Rob Carden said the region had been
“disproportionately affected” by the coronavirus pandemic and its residents had
a responsibility to prevent further cases.
Praising
fans who kept their revelry to their own homes, Carden said that others had not
stuck to the Covid-era regulations.
“Unfortunately,
as we have seen throughout the lockdown period, not everyone adhered to the
regulations in place,” he said. “Although the vast majority of celebrations
were good natured, a large number of people chose to gather outside the
stadium.”
Earlier,
about 100 fans gathered outside the Main Stand at Anfield for when the final
whistle blew on Chelsea’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City, securing Liverpool
the title for the first time since 1990 with seven games to spare.
Jürgen
Klopp, the charismatic German coach who has led the team to the title, gave a
tearful television interview after the Chelsea victory was confirmed, calling
it an “incredible moment”.
Club legend
and former manager Kenny Dalglish said “we’ve got a lot more happy days to come
as long as Jürgen’s there”, and his former teammate Graeme Souness told Sky:
“This is a special team. This is a team that nobody enjoys playing against...
They give everything ... when you combine that effort and the quality they
have... they’re some team.”
Fireworks
went off all around the city and fans waved flags and sang: “We’ve gone and won
the league.”
Within an
hour of the result, thousands of fans had gathered outside the stadium,
lighting red flares and joining in the singing. People, with children and dogs,
continued to make their way across Stanley Park to get to the stadium.
Advertisement
Many fans
were seen hugging and one man stood with his arm around a cardboard cut out
Klopp. Others carried flags and scarves while some fans brought crates of beer.
Many fans
wore face masks for the gathering and shortly before 11pm, police announced
road closures would be put in place. Officers could be seen in the area as fans
celebrated but no attempts were made to disperse the good-natured crowd.
Liverpool
city council told fans to “have a great party” but maintain social distancing
as they celebrated.
The Premier
League restarted earlier this month after pausing due to the Covid-19 pandemic,
with games now played behind closed doors.
Several
celebrities posted celebrations online after Thursday night’s result secured
the title for Liverpool, including the former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.
Comedian
and Liverpool fan John Bishop tweeted: “Not how any of us would have planned it
but thank you to those players and staff who have taken us back to the top.”
Liverpool
fan and NBA star LeBron James celebrated the win by tweeting: “Premier League
Champions!!! Let’s go!”
Asst Chief
Const Carden urged fans mark to the occasion safely. “In the days ahead, we
urge supporters to do the right thing and celebrate safely with members of your
household and in your social bubble.
“By doing
this you keep yourself, your family, friends and neighbours safe.”
Police
attacked at illegal street party in Notting Hill
Objects
were thrown at officers attempting to disperse crowds at Colville Gardens,
Scotland Yard says
Press
Association
Published onFri
26 Jun 2020 04.54 BST
Officers
attempting to disperse crowds at an unlicensed music event have been attacked
by revellers in west London, police said.
Scotland
Yard said objects were thrown at officers dispersing the crowd at an event at
Colville Gardens, Notting Hill. It comes after “appalling scenes” of violence
at a street party in Brixton on Wednesday evening.
Kensington
and Chelsea police tweeted: “Officers are at the scene of an unlicensed music
event near Colville Gardens, #W11. “Objects have been thrown at officers
dispersing the crowd. Violence will not be tolerated & units are responding
appropriately.
“This
gathering is illegal & we ask anyone in attendance to leave.”
Scotland
Yard said in a statement on Facebook late on Thursday that its officers were
undertaking an “enhanced policing operation” across the capital.
Commander
Bas Javid said extra officers, in personal protective equipment, had been
called in to ensure there was an “effective and prompt response to any reports
or disorder”.
He added:
“Our role is to keep our communities safe and this evening people can expect to
see a heightened police presence out in areas where we know these events are
taking place.”
“This is in
direct response to concerns expressed by our communities, many of whom were
scared and shocked by the events taking place outside their homes.”
Meanwhile,
police also attended an unlicensed music event at Streatham Common on Thursday
evening.
The force
tweeted: “Officers are currently at Streatham Common where an unlicensed music
event is taking place.
“They have
engaged with a large number of those in attendance and the crowd has now almost
entirely dispersed.”
Extra
police officers in protective gear have been sent to illegal raves planned
around London following “appalling scenes” of violence at a street party in
Brixton on Wednesday.
The Met
Police said it was targeting further unlicensed music events and block parties
around the city after 22 officers were injured on the Angell Town estate in
Brixton.
Footage on
social media showed police vehicles smashed and officers pelted with bottles
during clashes with a large crowd, with Downing Street condemning the scenes as
“appalling” and home secretary Priti Patel calling the incident “utterly vile”.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário