RIO DE JANEIRO -- A crowd in São Paulo attacked England fans before the team's World Cup Group D match against Uruguay there this afternoon, according to news reports and photographs from the scene.
The British-Consulate General in São Paulo did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for more information, but an official diplomatic account on Twitter said no fans had been reported seriously injured:
We are aware of an incident affecting fans around the area of the Fan Fest in Sao Paulo. We are working with the local authorities....— UK in Brazil (@ukinbrazil) June 19, 2014
.... to establish the facts. No British nationals are believed to have been injured. — UK in Brazil (@ukinbrazil) June 19, 2014
It appeared to be a frightening situation in São Paulo as a group of more than a dozen people reportedly attacked fans near two bars located close to the city's official FIFA Fan Fest, according to the Brazilian news service Globo.
Here's what the hooligans were carrying when they attacked the #ENG fans here in São Paulo #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/NSd51pzyJW— Neil Barker (@Mockneyrebel) June 19, 2014
Globo reports the attackers tore British flags and had small rockets, brass knuckles and at least one dagger on them before being arrested.
Brazilian military police in São Paulo did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for comment but told Globo that 15 people were arrested following the attack.
Picture of hooligans who attacked #ENG fans begin arrested here in São Paulo #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/LsKwq6Y48O— Neil Barker (@Mockneyrebel) June 19, 2014
The BBC's Piers Scholfield spoke to one England fan in São Paulo who described the incident, sounding as if police handled it well for the the most part and no major violence occurred.
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England plays Uruguay at 3 p.m. local time in a World Cup Group D match at São Paulo's Arena Corinthians.