By Alex Shilling, News Editor
@alexshilling on Twitter
West Ham fans have been attacked in a bar in Germany by local yobs ahead of the first game of the Irons' pre season tour.
Reports confirmed that a large group of Hammers fans, many wearing colours, were drinking in a bar in Mainz town centre before this evening's game against Mainz when a group of German supporters stormed into the bar and pelted the travelling Irons party with bottles.
It is understood that some of the West Ham contingent retaliated and threw bottles back at the German fans, but that the altercation could not be said to be a 'brawl' and the local police arrived and soon had the situation under control, with the Hammers fans being escorted by the police to the stadium.
One West Ham fan tweeted a series of updates about the situation, starting with: "Ok it's seriously gone off here."
He continued: "West Ham fans pelted with bottles. Police everywhere. Crap situation."
"If you didn't come to Mainz.. good decision."
The supporter tweeted about 20 minutes ago: "All has died down now.. hopefully."
This is not the first time that Hammers fans have been involved in violence when abroad. A pre season match in the States with Columbus Crew was marred in 2008 by Irons supporters fighting with local fans at half time.
An interesting twist to the story is that the German fans, according to one source, were not supporters of Mainz but were in fact fans of another German team, Frankfurt and had come to Mainz looking for trouble, knowing that West Ham were in the area and having heard about the club's previously notorious reputation for hooliganism.
We hope to have some more on this soon and will keep you updated with all the latest.
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