Express.co.uk reports that British officers launched an undercover operation following a complaint from the public after Lithuania’s opening game against Argentina on Sunday.
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| Nuotr. iš dailymail.co.uk/Lithuanian fan showed Nazi salute during Sunday's match |
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Officers within the basketball area arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public-order offence. This was the result of a pro-active operation by officers from the Met and stewards following concerns raised by members of the public as to the conduct of a small element of the crowd at a previous event.”
The Daily Mail previously reported an incident during Sunday's match between Lithuanian and Argentinian teams when a Lithuanian fan showed Nazi salute to two black stewards at the Olympic arena.
The Lithuanian fan arrested on Tuesday was taken to a police station during the break.
"He was only cheering and doing nothing more. But the police said he was insulting our black competitors with racist gestures and took him away," another fan, Tomas, later told Lithuanian news portal Delfi.lt.
London police has confirmed to Lithuania's Embassy the detention of a Lithuanian citizen who, according to media reports, was taken to custody during the Lithuania-Nigeria basketball match.
"London police has confirmed to the Lithuanian Embassy that it detained a Lithuanian citizen yesterday and he should go before court on Wednesday. Nevertheless, the officers emphasized they could not provide any further information about the case," Mindaugas Lašas, spokesman for the Foreing Ministry, told BNS on Wednesday.
In his words, the detainee has not yet exercised his right to personally contact the embassy.
"The embassy will continue following the case. During the Olympic Games, the readiness of the representation in London has been stepped up, so that it is ready to provide consular assistance in case of need," Lašas added.
The Foreign Ministry later informed that the Lithuanian basketball fan was sentenced to pay a fine.
"He was fined for offensive behaviour, for imitating ape sounds, making Nazi salutes, and other actions inciting racism," Mindaugas Lašas told BNS.
Accordign to him, the Lithuanian citizen was released from the courtroom. Lašas would not specify the the sum of the fine.
