By Bruce Smith
POLICE hunting violent football hooligans who rioted and attacked West Yorkshire officers today asked YEP readers to identify people filmed when Leeds United played Cardiff and West Ham.
For four months detectives have been probing the major violence which erupted in Leeds after the 1-1 home draw against Cardiff on January 15, and the disorder before and after United's 2-1 win against West Ham on February 26.
Today they urged the public to put names to the faces and play their part in ending football trouble.
The men in pictures 1 to 21 inclusive were filmed by police photographers after Cardiff played United at Elland Road for the first time for over two decades and detectives are eager to identify and question them about the incidents which occurred.
Those featured in pictures: 22,23,24, 25, 26 and 27, were photographed on the day of the Leeds and West Ham match.
Fighting began among supporters after the match against Cardiff and stones were hurled on to the motorway. As police tried to disperse fans from the area, some were confronted by 100 missile-throwing hooligans outside Elland Road near to McDonalds.
Missiles, believed to have included rocks, were thrown at police and some of the violent fans are thought to have armed themselves with lengths of wood.
Police managed to push the crowd back towards the M621, but the disorder continued for up to an hour.
Last week 14 people were arrested in connection with the trouble at the Cardiff game.
More than 100 police officers swooped on addresses in Gipton, Gledhow, Garforth, Seacroft, Woodlesford, Morley and Drighlington in Leeds, Allerton in Bradford, Skipton, Doncaster, Cleckheaton, Gomersal, Catterick Army Garrison and Pontefract.
Eleven suspected football hooligans were subsequently charged by police and are due to appear before Leeds magistrates on May 25. Three people were initially bailed pending further inquiries and one of these was charged later. Another person arrested escaped with a caution.
One of these arrested was detained at his partner's bedside as she went into labour on a hospital maternity ward at Pontefract General Infirmary.
The trouble on the day of the West Ham game occurred both before the match when police officers were attacked in residential streets close to Elland Road. Later, disturbances broke out between Leeds supporters and West Ham fans at Leeds railway station where there were 19 arrests.
Det Supt Phil Sedgwick, who is leading the investigation, said: "Four months after the disorder, they probably think we have forgotten all about it. Today we are releasing their photos and appealing to anyone who may know who they are to let us know. You will not be asked to give evidence. We simply want to know who they are. If you see yourself in the poster, contact your nearest police station immediately."
West Yorkshire Police are keen for people across the whole county to view the images as it is believed fans from across the region were at the matches
Det Supt Sedgwick added: "There is no place for disorder of any kind in West Yorkshire and anyone who has been involved in this type of offence should be warned 'we could be coming for you next'."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police using any of the following methods:
l Call the incident room on 01274 376100;
l Email information@westyorkshire. pnn.police.uk
l Text on 07733 123 123
l Call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
l Contact your nearest police station
l The photos can be viewed at www.westyorkshire.police.uk and you can email direct from the site.
bruce.a.smith@ypn.co.uk