Serbia apologizes to Croatia for attack on fans at European handball championship

Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 12:13 pm | The Associated Press

Croatia's fans react during their Men's European Handball Championship Group 2 match against France, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Darko Vojinovic

Serbia has apologized to Croatia for an attack by hooligans after a European championship handball game that left a dozen Croats injured.

A column of cars carrying Croat fans after their team won a game against France in northern Serbia was attacked by Serbs late Tuesday with stones, baseball bats and axes, smashing several car windows.

Serbian police have arrested nine suspected attackers in Novi Sad city and apologized to the Croatians and promised a thorough investigation.

Croatia's government had formally complained about the attack, and Serb-Croat tensions remain high, specially among sports fans, after their nations' war in the 1990s. Both countries have qualified for the semifinals of the handball championships that will be played this week in Belgrade.

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