Chaos across London and Europe as fans riot after Morocco's World Cup exit

Chaos across London and Europe as fans riot after Morocco's World Cup exit The Met told GB News it would not tolerate 'such disorder on our streets or attacks on our officers' amid the turmoil Don't Miss Most Read Chaos and clashes shook major European cities last night after Morocco were turfed out of the World Cup. In London, riot police were forced to descend on Edgware Road, home to a sizeable Middle Eastern community, as scenes turned ugly. Hundreds of fans had gathered on the west London street for the crunch quarter-final on Thursday night. But after Morocco's 2-0 defeat by France, rowdy supporters lit flares and fireworks, blocking traffic and climbing on traffic lights. More fans paraded through the streets before clashes broke out with police. In footage shared on social media, rows of riot gear-clad officers could be seen marching to break up crowds, while one officer could be seen lying on the ground as police and paramedics rushed to attend to him. GB News was at the scene as multiple officers swarmed a doorway to apprehend one person as supporters fled. A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman told GB News: "One officer has been injured, and four people have been arrested following disorder in Edgware Road. "Officers were initially called after a group of people congregated in the road and blocked traffic. The incident then escalated with the group throwing bottles and setting off fireworks. As a result, further officers were deployed to the area. "One officer was taken to hospital for head injuries, it is believed he had been hit by a glass bottle. No other injuries were reported. Officers remained in the area and made four arrests for violent disorder, with the group dispersing and the road re-opened from around 1am. "We will not tolerate such disorder on our streets, or attacks on our officers. A police presence will remain in the area overnight and we will be reviewing CCTV and video footage circulating on social media to ensure all those responsible are brought to justice." Trade unionist Paul Embery, reacting to last night's scenes, said: "This is the downside of abandoning an overarching national culture and turning your country and capital city into something resembling an international airport terminal. "Diversity is not our strength. It is, in many respects, our greatest challenge." Footage shared by vlogger Paul Brown shows columns of police marching down Edgware Road as the beaten Morocco fans sparked chaos |X/PAULBROWN_UK GB News was at the scene as multiple officers swarmed a doorway next to Ranoush Juice |GB NEWS Across the continent, similar chaos raged after the quarter-final. In Amsterdam, riot police were pelted with heavy fireworks, glass, and chairs, with Dutch outlet De Telegraaf detailing how police and youths were "playing a cat-and-mouse game" late into the night. In The Hague, Moroccan fans were seen chanting "all Jews are f**s" while more supporters hurled glass at police from balconies. Police shut down streets and put roadblocks in place, threatening fans with arrest if they did not go home. In Brussels, huge crowds of Morocco supporters lit fireworks, lit flares and chanted "free Palestine" in a main square in the heart of the city. In Rotterdam, hundreds of fans had marched through the streets and pelted police with eggs, despite so-called "community fathers" calling on them to leave. Crowds lit flares and flew Palestinian flags in Brussels - though Palestine have failed to qualify for every World Cup in history |GETTY Fans pelted police with fireworks on Edgware Road |TIKTOK/LONDON_NEWS_ Chaos also erupted in The Hague, where Moroccan fans were seen chanting 'all Jews are f**s' outside a nightclub |X/WURFTWAIN Though in Paris itself, scenes were somewhat more peaceful. More than 20,000 police officers were deployed across France as a whole, including 8,000 in Paris alone. A French security memo had put the nation on notice for a repeat of the violence that followed Paris-Saint Germain's Champions League victory in May. Streets were filled with French fans as the country secured its third World Cup semi-final in a row, with flags waving and car horns blaring on the iconic Champs-Elysees. Morocco were comfortably beaten yesterday evening, with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele the scorers. The African side had been the first from the continent to reach a semi-final in 2022 - but were denied the chance to repeat their feat by the French, who also knocked them out in Qatar. Scenes were somewhat more peaceful in Paris as France booked their place in the World Cup semi-final |REUTERS Flags waving and car horns blaring on Paris's iconic Champs-Elysees |REUTERS Just days ago, similar scenes broke out in London when Egypt beat Australia on penalties. Traffic ground to a halt in the west of the capital as even greater crowds than last night's marched up the street. Again, fans clashed with police and even climbed on buses, but one man was hit by a car as celebrations soured. Footage showed a grey SUV driving through a crowd before hitting into a man, leaving him on the floor. Police said the pedestrian was rushed to hospital and is believed to have broken his arm in the collision. A Met Police spokesman told GB News at the time that around 1,000 people were gathered on Edgware Road. Crowds were safely dispersed, police added, and no arrests were made at the scene.