Italian police have arrested eight individuals following a violent ambush by Udinese supporters on a train carrying rival Venezia fans after a Serie A match on Saturday, February 1. The clashes, which took place at Basiliano station near Udine, left several people injured, including police officers, and caused significant damage to the train.
The attack occurred as around 1,200 Venezia fans were traveling home after their team’s 3-2 defeat against Udinese. A group of approximately 50 Udinese supporters, some masked and armed with flares and smoke bombs, blocked the train’s path and began hurling objects at the carriages. This escalated into a mass brawl when several Venezia fans disembarked to confront the attackers.
Six Venezia fans were injured during the incident, with two requiring hospitalization. Three police officers also sustained injuries while trying to contain the violence. A police helicopter was deployed to support the officers on the ground, and most of the Udinese supporters fled the scene as authorities intervened.
Eight individuals were apprehended in connection with the attack, including five Austrians, a Bosnian living in Austria, an Albanian, and an Italian. Investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved.
The train carrying the Venezia fans was damaged during the attack, and passengers who were not part of the match were transferred to another train. The Venezia supporters were moved to undamaged carriages, and the train eventually resumed its journey around 8:00 PM local time.
Both Udinese and Venezia condemned the violence, extended their support to the injured, and pledged full cooperation with authorities. Udinese issued a strong statement, emphasizing that “those who tarnish the sport with violence are not fans.”
This latest clash follows a history of tension between the two sets of supporters, including a previous violent incident in Venice on October 30, when Udinese fans were attacked near a train station. Police had stationed officers at Basiliano in anticipation of potential unrest, as the match had been categorized as high risk. Reports suggest that Udinese ultras were joined by supporters of the Austrian club Salzburg, with whom they have established ties.
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