Hundreds arrested in Germany after Cup

Updated: Monday July 01, 2002 10:46 a.m. ET

BERLIN (AP) -- Hundreds of people were taken into custody in Germany for vandalism or clashing with police following the national soccer team's 2-0 loss to Brazil in the World Cup final.

The worst outbreak of violence came in Hamburg's St. Pauli district as hooligans clashed with police in the night following Sunday's game.

Police took 72 people into custody, though more than 60 of them were released on Monday. Several people were injured, including a police officer who suffered a broken nose.

Elsewhere, about 100 fans rampaged through Duesseldorf, breaking windows and vandalizing cars and property, police said. During the match, a dozen fans were also taken into custody in Leipzig after they pelted police with bottles, chairs and firecrackers.

Hundreds more fans were detained in cities across Germany for minor incidents as the huge crowds that watched the match on large city-center screens stayed on to celebrate Germany's second-place finish.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)