Everton supporters who were wanted over a violent attack outside a pub have been arrested in a series of dawn raids.
Scotland Yard said six males, including a 15-year-old boy, were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder at seven addresses across Liverpool, Wirral and Warrington this morning. These suspects are aged from 15 to 54 years of age.
Scotland Yard said that a 24-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in Crawley, Sussex, as part of the swoop.
The arrests follow clashes which broke out between a group of around 30 Everton supporters who attacked a smaller group of Newcastle United and Hull City supporters drinking outside the Millers pub in Caledonian Road in Islington, north London.
It happened at about 6pm on May 16 at the end of a busy day of football in London where all three teams had played in matches.
Passers-by saw men – armed with glasses and throwing punches and kicking in the 12 minutes of violence that was unleashed until the police arrived. A 51-year-old man was taken to hospital for treatment to a head injury.
Merseyside Police helped to identify some of the suspects who were captured on CCTV cameras and by members of the public on their mobile phones.
Scotland Yard said this wealth of images helped officers from other forces identify and track down some of the suspects.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Barnes, of Operation Arrowtip which investigates football-related crime and disorder in London, said: "Violence amongst supporters has no place in football; be it before, during or after a match.
"These investigations that lead to operations like today show that no matter where you are from, or who you support, UK policing will work together to identify suspects and take action against them."
All seven of the males arrested today have now been released on bail pending further inquiries.
The three men - including a 52-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of three counts of assault and two men arrested on suspicion of affray – who were arrested shortly after the incident have all been bailed pending further inquiries.