Police detain about 200 in Austria on first day of Euro-2008

Police temporarily detained about 200 people throughout Austria on the country's first day of European Championship matches.

Photo: Police detain about 200 in Austria on first day of Euro-2008

Euro 2008 Interior Ministry spokesman Konrad Kogler said the bulk of Sunday's detentions - about 160 - were made in the southern city of Klagenfurt, where Germany defeated Poland 2-0. The match had been billed as one of the more likely for fan violence.

Four of the hooligans detained in Klagenfurt are still in custody, Kogler said Monday. All are German nationals. About 140 people were detained in the southern city late Sunday for shouting Nazi-like slogans.

In Vienna, where Croatia defeated Austria 1-0, eight people were detained for a series of different offenses, Kogler said.

In all, an estimated 270,000 supporters took part in celebrations throughout the country.

"Police guaranteed a safe soccer day yesterday through rapid and reasonable intervention," Kogler said.