Eight football thugs held in dawn swoops

EIGHT suspected Hearts and Hibs casuals are being quizzed by police today after dozens of officers swooped in a series of dawn raids.

As part of a crackdown on football violence following clashes after last month's Edinburgh derby, 30 officers raided nine addresses across the Lothians at 5am.

The raids, which took place in areas including Restalrig, Corstorphine, Howdenhall, Telford and Tranent, led to eight men aged between 20 and 40 being detained at a city centre police station for questioning.

The raids follow weeks of work carried out by a police task force, who have been viewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage in order to identify thugs involved in street battles.

Up to 60 hooligans fought running battles in Lothian Road and Fountain Park following the Hibs v Hearts league fixture on October 15.

All eight have now been arrested and charged with offences including mobbing and rioting.

A police spokesman said: "This is the first wave of raids for detaining those suspects involved in disorder in Edinburgh city centre back on October 15 following the Hibernian v Heart of Midlothian football match.

"A squad of 12 officers has spent the last six weeks sifting through hours of CCTV footage to identify those responsible.

"There will be further raids over the coming weeks."

Police have also said that those responsible for the chaotic scenes in the city's streets last month could be hit with football banning orders, as well as potentially being put behind bars.

Other culprits involved in the violence are believed to range in age from teenagers to men in their 40s.

It is also believed that older hooligans who were part of the city's casual scene 20 years ago are now returning to be joined by younger men.

Police arrested 14 people in the hours following the game at Easter Road amid scenes including traffic cones being thrown through pub windows, fans clashing at Fountain Park and rubbish bins being hurled at police.

Both clubs have pledged their support for the crackdown on violence.