Last week we told you we had arrested seven men following a series of early morning warrants in relation to the death of football fan, Tony Johnson, in Blackpool.
A further two arrests have since been made, of a 31-year-old man from Blackpool and an 18-year-old man from Burnley, on suspicion of violent disorder and assault.
Mr Johnson, 55, sadly died after being assaulted on Saturday, March 4th, following a football match between Blackpool and Burnley earlier that day. The assault occurred outside The Manchester pub, at the junction of the Promenade and Lytham Road.
Mr Johnson suffered a serious head injury and was taken to hospital, but sadly died later that night.
A 33-year-old man from Burnley was arrested at the scene on suspicion of wounding and was later bailed, pending further enquiries. Last Wednesday (May 17th) he was re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
On the same day warrants were carried out at four addresses in the Fylde area and four addresses in the Burnley area and six further people were arrested on suspicion of violent disorder. They are
- A 49-year-old man from Blackpool
- An 18-year-old man from Poulton-le-Fylde
- An 18-year-old man from Foulridge
- A 28-year-old man from Blackpool
- A 31-year-old man from Colne
- A 45-year-old man from Foulridge
This takes the total number of people arrested as part of this investigation to nine. All nine have now been released on bail pending further enquiries.