Mass brawl between football supporters in Lahti leads to 48 detentions
A violent confrontation between extremist football supporters erupted in central Lahti on Saturday, 11 July, following a Veikkausliiga match between FC Lahti and HJK. The police detained 48 individuals in connection with the mass brawl, though all were released the same evening or the following day. Six crime reports have been filed, including charges of assault, illegal masking, criminal damage, and possession of objects intended to cause serious harm.
The police suspect two young men, aged 17 and 21, of carrying smoke explosives in central Lahti. The 17-year-old has admitted to possessing a signal smoke device, while the 21-year-old had an emergency flare. Both cases will be forwarded to the prosecutor for consideration of charges (Yle).
Police response and preparedness
The Häme Police Department had classified the match as a high-risk event and deployed sufficient resources, including support from other agencies. Chief Inspector Tero Veijonmaa of the Traffic and Special Operations Sector denied claims that the police allowed the brawl to occur, stating that officers arrived at the scene within minutes of the emergency call.
"I wish to refute the claim made in public that the police allowed the mass brawl to occur. This is not true," Veijonmaa said in a press release. He described the police response as "efficient, purposeful, and under command" but acknowledged that the fight took place despite advance planning and intelligence gathering (Yle, Iltalehti).
The police have since evaluated their actions and plan to refine their operational plans, particularly regarding the placement and timing of patrols for future high-risk events.
Location and motives of the brawl
The confrontation occurred at Paasikivenaukio, near a bar popular among FC Lahti supporters. According to police interrogations, the brawl was not prearranged, though the location may not have been chosen at random (Iltalehti). The restaurant manager of the nearby bar told Iltalehti that the fight began when masked individuals arrived at the corner of the terrace.
In addition to the reported crimes, the police suspect that some assaults during the brawl may not have been reported. Authorities have emphasised the responsibility of supporters in maintaining disturbance-free conduct around matches.