Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, November 6, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Major security operation outside Aston Villa stadium ahead of Maccabi game
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Police officers escort a woman with an Israeli flag near anti-Israel protesters outside Villa Park in Birmingham on November 6, 2025, ahead of the UEFA Europa League league-stage football match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv. (HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP)
UK police are conducting a major security operation outside the stadium of English football team Aston Villa ahead of their game tonight with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel groups planned mass demonstrations outside the stadium.
The threat of disturbance saw shops and schools around the Villa Park area close early today, with officers using Section 60 powers to stop and detain suspicious people, the BBC reports.
Images showed hundreds of people protesting against Israel with signs reading “show Israel the Red Card” and “Say no to baby killers in football.”
A few counter-protesters holding Israeli flags and Maccabi Tel Aviv scarves were surrounded by a heavy police presence.
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