W. German World Cup Victory Celebrations Turn Violent; 4 Killed

Celebrations of West Germany’s World Cup victory turned deadly violent today as hooligans attacked police and foreigners, smashed windows and looted stores in both German states.

Police said four people were killed and more than 100 injured during melees and wild celebrations across the two nations.

Hundreds of thousands of Germans poured into the streets in scores of cities to savor the emotional victory Sunday night, but roving bands of rowdies and neo-Nazi skinheads are blamed for using the celebrations for violent rampages.

The violence lasted into this morning, and widespread vandalism and looting were reported in numerous cities.

In the West German city of Hamburg, about 400 hooligans hurled rocks and bottles at police. Fifty-four police officers were injured and 88 people were arrested, police said.

Windows of more than 20 stores were smashed, one bar was destroyed and several police and private autos were damaged by the mob, police said.

Police used truncheons and water cannons to break up the crowd.

West Germany’s 1-0 victory over Argentina had strong political overtones for this nation that is about to unite with its eastern neighbor, and is making plans to field a single Olympic team including East German athletes.

East Germans took part in the celebrations and the violence.

In East Berlin, neo-Nazi skinheads rampaged on the city’s main square, Alexanderplatz, and smashed the windows of a bar frequented by homosexuals and attacked passers-by. Three people were seriously injured.

The skinheads reportedly chased Vietnamese living and working in the country.

Twelve people were arrested.

In the Rhine River city of Cologne, a reveler died when he smashed a window in a moving streetcar, leaned out and was struck by a concrete pillar, police said.

In the city of Heilbronn in southwest West Germany, two people died when their car slammed into a lamppost and was ripped in two. In Geislingen, a speeding car with four fans smashed into a post, killing one and seriously injuring three.

In the West German city of Schwetzingen, 37 people were injured when a fan drove his car into a crowd celebrating in the street.

In West Berlin, four youths were seriously injured when they tumbled from a moving truck when it sideswiped a highway overpass support, tearing open its door.

In Cologne, a mob surrounded a car driven by an 18-year-old Turk and threatened to lynch him, police in the city said. The car was violently rocked, and three people were hurt when the driver tried to drive away.