Police use WATER CANNONS to stop 1,000 Eintracht Frankfurt thugs attacking West Ham fans after Europa League clash

RIOT POLICE were forced to use water cannons as German hooligans targeted West Ham supporters last night.

The trouble first started when heartbroken Hammers players were escorted off by cops after thousands of Eintracht Frankfurt fans invaded the pitch following the Europa League semi.

EPARiot police were called in to protect West Ham fans from Frankfurt thugs last night[/caption]

Aaron Cresswell was sent off and boss David Moyes dismissed to the stands as their European dreams came to an end.

West Ham were beaten 1-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate in front of a white-hot atmosphere at the Deutsche Bank Park.

And things took a turn for the worst once fans had left the ground as Frankfurt followers pelted police with bottles and a host of other objects as they celebrated sealing a spot in the final against Rangers.

The trouble erupted at Berliner Strasse, near to Frankfurter Romer town hall, when around 1,000 German fans appeared to be on the way to the city’s main train station.

That was where around 2,500 West Ham supporters, who had been unable to secure a match ticket, had grouped together to watch the action.

Police had opted to heavily hem them together in order for their own protection.

The majority of the ticketless fans had been drinking most of the day in O’Reillys without any major trouble.

And as the mob approached that area, cops rushed outside the boozer, located opposite the railway, to try and stop the violence but they were met with bottles and missiles.

Two West Ham supporters were allegedly involved in a fist fight with each other, with an ambulance needed to attend to one at the scene, although no arrests were made.

Police did praise Hammers fans for being largely well-behaved as they apologised for the “shameful” behaviour from Frankfurt’s ultras following a number of attacks over the past 48 hours.

There were over 30 arrests made last night, with local authorities stating the majority were German.

We reported how West Ham fans were attacked by thugs in the German city for the second night running.

A group of Frankfurt fans dressed all in black and wearing face masks – believed to be the club’s ultras – attacked Waxy’s Irish pub where Hammers fans were watching the semi-final.

That came after a supporter was taken to hospital following attacks the previous evening.

EPAA West Ham fan tries to get past police to confront the thugs[/caption]

EPAWater cannons were eventually used to disperse the German hooligans[/caption]