Armed police surround Berlin Irish pub as rowdy England fans kick off Euro 2024 party
Euros: England fans gather at Irish pub in Berlin
Dozens of armed German police officers have surrounded an Irish Pub in Berlin as a crowd of Three Lions supporters swelled in size on Saturday night.
Hundreds of England fans were in the area outside Kilkenny Irish Pub and the crowd was growing quickly, reported Express journalist at the scene Zak Garner-Purkis.
Many in the crowd sang and climbed on each other's shoulders and a police officer told The Express: "It has all been peaceful so far. And, I hope, it will continue to be."
However, German police appeared ready for anything, supported by British plainclothes cops who were "watching [the crowd] like hawks," with at least six riot vans in position around the corner.
Express journalists at the scene reported that the crowd had begun drinking in the street while police closed the tram route in the area due to the gathering. An ambulance was on scene as a precautionary measure, according to police.
Staff at Kilkenny said they had been preparing for the busiest days of the year as supporters of Three Lions descend on the German capital for the Euro 2024 final.
Kilkenny Irish Pub barman Barry Carey, 50, told the Express he was readying himself for the English to start drinking at 10am when the pub opens for business.
"We were slammed yesterday,” he said, “but there was no trouble, they were absolutely fantastic. A couple of years ago had to close because it was really bad and loads of police had to come down."
Carey said the bar had been stocking up on beer ahead of the game against Spain which will be broadcast on screens inside and outside the bar.
"The back room is filled with kegs" he said, "they are mainly drinking lager but we also sell a lot of Guinness.
"I predicted England would get to the final and we were thinking maybe they’ll be mayhem again. But to be honest, some of the Dutch fans can be a lot as well."
Carey added that the Euro 2024 tournament had overall been "great" despite moments of stress and a few issues with drunken punters.
"Some of the staff were dreading it," he continued, "because it’s just going to go nuts because it’s going to be like St Patrick's day when [everyone was squashed together] and you just couldn’t move."
England fans were already arriving in the morning when the Express visited, eating fried breakfasts washed down with pints of lager and Guinness.
