Six football fans have been arrested after riot police fired rubber bullets and used batons on pub-goers on the Costa Blanca
A RANGERS bar in Benidorm was "torched" as Celtic fans clashed with riot cops ahead of their team's Europa League clash with Valencia tonight.
At least six Scottish supporters were arrested in ugly scenes as police fired rubber bullets and used batons on pub-goers on the Costa Blanca.
Shocking pictures shared on social media show the front of the pub has been left charred by the blaze.
Regulars at the drinking den, which boasts it is the "1st Rangers Bar in Benidorm", revealed that the flags outside were set alight but the inside area was undamaged by the flames.
The Glasgow-based teams are bitter rivals and have a history of violence against one another.
The blaze comes as thousands of supporters arrive in the seaside town and the Costa Blanca area ahead of the crunch European tie in Valencia tonight.
In a separate incident, video footage has emerged showing clashes between fans and Spanish police on the streets of the resort.
One riot cop was filmed by a horrified holidaymaker after he began violently swinging his truncheon at fans walking along a street.
But as one man on the receiving end got back up again and appeared to protest at his treatment, he was threatened again by the same officer.
The victim’s headphones could be seen coming off as he tried to beat a retreat - but instead of allowing him to pick them up, the officer broke them by stamping on them with his foot.
The other person was found to have drugs, specifically Cocaine and Crystal Meth
Police spokesperson
When a horrified Celtic fan in shorts who was watching what was happening attempted to intervene, a colleague of the riot cop reacted by whacking him on the back of the leg with his truncheon.
This morning, a spokeswoman for the National Police in Valencia catalogued the various grounds for arrests among the Celtic fans who had been partying in the city’s bars on Wednesday night.
She said: ”We have six people under arrest, five of them for public disturbance.
“The other person was found to have drugs, specifically Cocaine and Crystal Meth.”
As far as the public disturbance allegations are concerned, she said those arrested had allegedly thrown furniture, rubbish and glasses at police officers attending a local bar.
She said a cop car had been damaged in one incident and fans had gone into a bus stop and refused to move on.
The behaviour of the police in Valencia was shameful
Local Ana Fernandez
A Sein Fein Dublin-based councillor described the police behaviour as “outrageous violence”.
Paul Donnelly told Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his social media message overnight: “Outrageous violence from your police force against Celtic fans this evening in Valencia.
“First-hand evidence of extreme and unprovoked attacks with batons, tear gas and rubber bullets by an out-of-control police force.”
Police in Valencia could not be reached early this morning to offer their version of events and provide information on whether there had been any arrests or injuries.
Local Ana Fernandez, commenting on footage showing police reacting after having bottles thrown at them from a premises they were surrounding, said: “I was there. The behaviour of the police in Valencia was shameful.
“Eight vans surrounding a pub and tranquility apart from the odd person who was acting up.
“Heading home and being pushed and shouted at by police with truncheons in their hand. Is this the police force that is supposed to look after me!!”
It’s expected that in the hope that their team will turn up for the do-or-die Euro showdown.
The Spanish government’s Anti-Violence Commission announced earlier this month they have deemed the game a “high-risk encounter”, meaning there is likely to be a hugely increased police and security presence.
But with only a 2,500 ticket allocation for the match at the Mestalla Stadium, thousands will need to pack into pubs to watch the game, with no fanzone planned.
The ticket demand from the Scottish champions is in stark contrast to what the Spanish side were after last week, when they only claimed 300 for the first leg.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
