Minister expects consequences from Hansa after train attack

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s Interior Minister Christian Pegel (SPD) expects Hansa Rostock to have clear consequences for the perpetrators after the attack on a special train carrying Rot-Weiss Essen fans. “This apparently planned action is horrible and shocks me deeply,” said the politician. “Once again, a small group of criminals who abuse the popular sport of football for their desire for violence have caused great damage to the club, the city and our country.”

FC Hansa has already assured its support in the investigation. “I therefore assume that the club’s investigation results will have severe consequences for the perpetrators,” said Pegel.

Fans attack Zug

The Essen supporters were on their way to their team’s league game in Rostock on Saturday. The train was brought to a stop in Brandenburg and, according to the police, was attacked by a masked group of perpetrators. The police did not initially confirm whether the attackers were FC Hansa fans. On Saturday evening, the Rostock police station announced that a 20-year-old German suspect from the northwest Mecklenburg district had been identified.

Hansa Rostock had distanced itself from the incidents. The club’s fans have been noticed several times in the past for violent actions.

Five supervisory board members of the third division soccer team have resigned as a result of the incident. “For some time now we have been observing a development that fills us with concern,” says a joint statement from Rainer Lemmer, Christian Stapel, Henryk Bogdanow, Frank Schollenberger and Immanuel Fuhrmann. Specifically referring to the attack, they wrote: “A red line has been crossed for us!”