Several participants and two police officers were injured in a mass brawl between at least 80 people on Friday night in Essen, in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. A police spokesman said on Saturday that several people had been taken to hospitals.
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The police had been dispatched with a “larger contingent” and a helicopter. It remains unclear how many people were injured in the alleged “crime clash between clans”.
Police are investigating a connection to another fight.
The discussion started around 9:30 pm in front of a restaurant. According to the information, several onlookers were added, so 113 people were last at the scene. Iron bars and knives were later found at the scene of the fight.
The police were on duty until well after midnight. “Reconnaissance measures” are underway to find out if there can be another discussion on Saturday, the spokesman said.
Police are also investigating whether there was any connection to a fight with several people injured in Castrop-Rauxel, some 30 kilometers away, which also took place on Friday night. At the moment, however, the personal details of those involved in the Essen brawl have yet to be determined, the spokesman said.