Police probe fan attack on Dynamo Dresden players

BERLIN, Feb 26 (Reuters) Police in the eastern German city of Dresden said today they were investigating an incident in which Dynamo Dresden players were threatened by a group of around 50 of their own supporters.

After Dresden lost 1-0 at home to Osnabrueck on Saturday in a regional third division match, the supporters, some of whom wore masks, confronted the players at a training session yesterday, shouting insults, firing blanks and attacking a television team.

''This has never happened in Germany before. It was really extreme,'' a police spokesman said.

Officials were also investigating why the club did not inform the police, who first learned of the attack from a television report last evening, he added.

The incident was part of a recent pattern of violent behaviour among German soccer fans, particularly in the lower divisions and in eastern regions such as Saxony, where Dresden is the capital.

Saxony's soccer federation cancelled some 60 lower league games earlier this month after fans in the city of Leipzig assaulted police.

''I'm shocked,'' Dynamo Dresden captain Sebastian Pelzer told today's edition of the Saechsische Zeitung newspaper. The club are seventh in the regional third division, seven points behind leaders Osnabrueck.

''They set off fireworks and charged at us. It makes you think about your wellbeing,'' Pelzer added. Players were considering boycotting this Saturday's match against Fortuna Duesseldorf, MDR television reported.

Dynamo Dresden were once one of the most successful clubs in East Germany, winning the league title eight times.

REUTERS AY RK1835