French police have arrested three men following a gang attack on a bar in Lyon, packed with Tottenham football fans.
French police have arrested three men after an attack on a bar in Lyon which was packed with Tottenham football fans.
The pub was targetted on Wednesday night leaving three Spurs fans with minor injuries.
Two of those arrested were Lyon fans, the other is believed to be a member of a far-right group.
"Club officials attended an incident last night in Lyon. A group of around 50 people confronted fans. The situation was dealt with and arrests were made within the hour. Three fans sustained minor injuries and received prompt medical assistance.
– Tottenham spokesman"Spurs officials and stewards will be in the city throughout the day, along with match day French police ahead of kick-off."
French Journalist Alexander Aucott has taken this image showing the damage to the Smoking Dog pub in Lyon.
Witnesses described a group of up to 50 masked men, some making Nazi salutes.
Three people are reported to be in hospital, one with a head injury.
Eyewitnesses who were inside the Smoking Dog pub said thugs attacked the bar at 10.18pm on Wednesday night. They then returned to launch another assault, leaving the pub badly damaged.
– Dave Eales, pub landlordAt 10.18 the pub was rammed with Tottenham fans watching the Champions League on the television. The front of the pub, which is made up of reinforced glass, was attacked by 20-25 people.
They threw projectiles through the windows. There was a stand off. They didn't get in to the bar. Then it calmed down. Then they came back a second time and it all started again.
There were three injured Tottenham fans taken away by ambulance. One of them had a head injury. I'm not sure how bad it was.
French Journalist Alexander Aucott told Daybreak that the damage caused to the pub in Lyon.
He said the Smoking Dog pub was subject to a "violent" attack, where windows were smashed, leaving bar stools and tables lying around "everywhere".
Three Tottenham fans have reportedly been taken to hospital, one with a head injury after the pub was attacked.
Lyon smoking dog pub http://t.co/YdCIimhn57
– Christian Radnege, Spurs fanThey came in making Nazi salutes. It was frightening. Rome was fresh in everyone's minds. Everyone realised this was serious.
They left and then we thought that was it, but five minutes later it started again.
The intruders did not get in to the bar because it was full of Spurs fans. There were drips of blood left in the bar. The owners barricaded the pub between the two waves of attacks.
In November last year, the President of the Italian Football Association apologised to the English FA following a "disgraceful attack" on Tottenham fans in Rome.
One eyewitness who did not want to be named, said:
There were 50 who attacked in the first wave and 25 in the second. It's a pretty scary thing when you're confronted by people doing Nazi salutes.
A lit flare was thrown through the window as well as the heavy weight, the kind that's used on terraces to hold down umbrellas. It was terrifying. I've never seen anything like it. They threw iron stools through the windows as well.
Three Tottenham fans have reportedly been taken to hospital after a group of up to 50 masked thugs attacked a pub in Lyon.
Eyewitnesses say the attackers smashed doors and threw objects.
Around 150 Spurs fans were inside, ahead of their team's Europa League match tonight in the French city.