After a photo with a swastika – searches at hooligans

In connection with alleged fights and a photo with a swastika flag after a game between FC Hansa Rostock and FC Watford in England, the police have been searching the homes of 17 suspects since Tuesday morning. A total of 16 searches are planned in Rostock and in the Rostock and Vorpommern-Greifswald districts, the public prosecutor's office and police said.

The measures are aimed at people between the ages of 19 and 36, as the Rostock police announced. 121 police forces are on duty.

The accused are being investigated on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm and using the symbols of unconstitutional organizations. The starting point of the investigation is a group photo with 17 people who apparently lined up for a so-called third-party confrontation between Hansa supporters and presumably supporters of the Scottish club Glasgow Rangers. In such arranged fights, rival fan groups deliberately meet at a location away from the stadium.

Hansa Rostock distances herself

There is also suspicion that some of the people pictured posed with a swastika flag and approved the publication of the photo. At the beginning of September, the research portal “Exif” published pictures of Hansa supporters in England who, among other things, could be seen in front of such a flag. The third division soccer team reacted immediately after the “Exif” research was published and announced stadium bans and club exclusions against the people in question if they were club members.

“Right-wing extremism, National Socialist symbolism and inhumane ideas have no place at F.C. Hansa Rostock,” the club said in a statement at the time. “We will not allow people with such behavior to discredit our club and its fans or to convey an image of Hansa that in no way corresponds to our self-image and our values.”