More than 50 extra police officers were deployed to safeguard a football match on Tuesday, after demands for additional protection following the Napoli FC attack on the Piebury Corner cafe three weeks ago.
Two people were hospitalised in the attack on the cafe at the bottom of Holloway Road by fans of the Italian football club before they played against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in Highbury.
Although Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to German team Borussia Dortmund passed without incident, one Arsenal fan, Hugo Johnson, remarked that he saw two policemen every 10 yards, and that their increased presence was noticeable.
In the build up to Tuesday’s game, Chief Inspector Simon Prince, said: “For the Napoli game 257 officers were deployed to police the game. So far over 300 police have been assigned to the Borussia Dortmund match and it is anticipated extra resources will be added. As for Piebury Corner itself, at present, additional police resources have been deployed to the Holloway Road area and to the vicinity of the shop.”
Complaints from local residents about anti social behaviour mired Arsenal’s last clash with the German side in 2011.
Andy Hull, a councillor for Highbury West, confirmed on Tuesday that he would be watching the police operation: “The last time Borussia Dortmund came here they trashed the place. We’ve got it cranked up to the highest level of security this time. We don’t want another Napoli where, luckily, no one was seriously hurt, but Piebury Corner was smashed up and someone ended up in the Whittington [Hospital]”
Nikki Kelly, a 50 year old resident of Ambler Road, said: “Last time Borussia Dortmund played here it was a nightmare. They were peeing in all our gardens and we really felt the police had let the situation get out of control. I was relieved to see an increased police presence this year.”
