Birmingham Maccabi Tel Aviv LIVE: Major UK city on high alert as 700 cops swarm streets

Birmingham has been placed on high alert this evening with huge police presence expected around Villa Park, as tensions heat up ahead of today's Europa League tie. West Midlands Police have announced they will deploy 700 officers onto the streets after identifying the Aston Villa vs Maccabi Tel Aviv clash as "high risk". The away fans have already been banned from entering the stadium, a decision it was claimed to have been taken "based on current intelligence" and a "thorough" assessment of potential protests that could clash. The main concerns stem from five separate organised protests around the stadium that will see both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups descend into the same square mile - along with 42,000 Villa fans.

There are fears that last year's violent clashes in Amsterdam involving the Tel Aviv fans could repeat themselves. Several schools in the local vicinity around Villa Park have made the decision to close early at 2pm today to ensure their pupils' safety, despite the 8pm kick-off.

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