Police have carried out a raid before the district derby between Schalke and Borussia Dortmund. The background is the attack by BVB and RWE fans on Schalke fans a few weeks ago.

Two days before the Revierderby between FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund, there has been a large police operation in Gelsenkirchen and other NRW cities.

The background is the attack by hooligans from Borussia Dortmund and Rot-Weiss Essen on Schalke fans almost three weeks ago.

As reported by the WAZ, officers deployed early on Thursday morning and searched numerous buildings looking for violent supporters. According to Bild, the Ultras Gelsenkirchen clubhouse was also a target of the officers.

Update (9.13am): In the meantime, the police have confirmed the operation. “With numerous task forces, investigators have been searching 25 properties since the morning, mainly in Essen and Dortmund, but also in Schwelm, Bergheim, Gladbeck, Beelen, Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen,” it says in a statement. “During the measures, the Gelsenkirchen police are also supported by local task forces. The operation was preceded by intensive investigative work, which is continuing.”

On the morning of Sunday 19 February, at least 100 people ready to use violence had attacked Schalke fans before they left for the away game at Union Berlin. The attackers were assigned to the BVB and RWE fan scenes. A mass brawl developed and weapons such as baseball bats were used. Several people were injured, four of them seriously, including a bus driver.

Since the Gelsenkirchen police could not rule out a revenge action in the context of the duel between Schalke and BVB this Saturday (6.30 pm), the security precautions for the already always explosive match have already been tightened. A ban on the sale of alcohol around the arena will be in place on match day.