Most wanted: suspects in violence at Uefa Cup final

The faces of dozens of suspected ringleaders in the violence that marred last May�s Uefa Cup Final in Manchester involving Rangers have today been released by police. (With video)

The faces of dozens of suspected ringleaders in the violence that marred last May's Uefa Cup Final in Manchester involving Rangers have today been released by police.

Some 47 people, whom Greater Manchester Police have labelled "category A" troublemakers, are identified here as the net closes in following eight months of painstaking investigations and 15,000 hours of viewing footage.

The CCTV images, most of which clearly identify those allegedly involved and which have been numbered by police, are also due to be paraded on tonight's edition of the BBC's Crimewatch and will go live on Greater Manchester Police's website at 9pm.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Operation Gale, said the 47 suspects, aged from late teens to late 20s, were involved in a range of offences, from serious assaults on policemen to vandalism and looting.

Detective Superintendent Geoff Wessell said he would be pushing the Crown Prosecution Service to bring the severest possible charges. He claimed that his force was of the belief that, on the night of the violence, officers could have lost their lives, adding he was "relieved" he is not investigating a murder.

Mr Wessell said: "We now want the public's help in putting names to the faces of the people we believe were involved in the violence.

"I ask that you take a few minutes to view the images and, if you recognise anyone, please fill in the simple on-line form with the offender's details. If necessary this can be done anonymously.

"It's a simple process that could help us put some violent people behind bars."

Questions may be asked of the timing of the TV appeal, however, given that many of the people police would hope see the footage will be attending another game this evening. As Crimewatch takes to the airways, thousands of Rangers supporters will either be at the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against Falkirk at Hampden Park or watching the game on television.

An estimated 150,000 Rangers fans travelled to Manchester for the Glasgow club's match with Zenit St Petersburg held at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Disorder broke out after a screen in the largest fan zone failed before kick-off. The ensuing violence saw officers and supporters clash in the streets, resulting in a number of injuries and widespread criminal damage.

In the frankest interview given since the event, Mr Wessell described the violence as "unprecedented in Manchester and not seen in the UK for a very long time" and said 30 officers had been injured, from broken bones to cuts and bruises.

He described how a crowd attempted to remove an officer's helmet while others kicked his head, and another had his own baton used against him.

One officer, Constable John Goodwin, who was knocked to the ground by a mob, beaten and stamped on until he lost consciousness, has also spoken of psychological trauma, according to Mr Wessell.

He said that, although he reckoned the violence was "not purely Scottish", he did not believe the events were the work of organised hooligan gangs. Instead, he claimed they developed spontaneously and were largely fuelled by alcohol.

The officer also moved to counter suggestions in the immediate aftermath that his officers sparked the violence by switching off a big screen in Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens. He said: "We did not turn the screen off. That was not the response to any situation in terms of the numbers of fans. Suffice to say, if we had been allowed we could have turned the screen back on."

Around 1200 Scottish police officers have had prior viewings of the images and it is understand several may already be identified.

Mr Wessell added: "We're just as committed now to this investigation as we were in May. There are clearly others of whom we can't yet get good still images but these 50 are a hardcore. The best thing a person who is identified in these images could do is contact the nearest police station and surrender themselves because we will find you."

Last night one influential group of Rangers supporters urged fellow fans to pass information to the police if they felt they knew any of those caught on camera.

Stephen Smith, of the Rangers Supporters Trust, said: "Anyone who has helped drag Rangers and the club's support through the mud, such as attacking police, has no place within the Rangers support.

"If it helps improve or enhance the reputation of our club I don't see any reason why anyone who knows these people should not identify them to the police.

"I for one would support any move which separates this minority from the law-abiding majority of Rangers fans."

A YouTube video of the violence has also been issued by Greater Manchester Police, with the force hoping the upsurge in the use of social networking sites will enhance their chances of securing arrests and convictions.

Mr Wessell, who said only the IRA bombing of Manchester's Arndale Centre in the mid-1990s involved as detailed an investigation of CCTV footage, said that the numbers involved were in the hundreds rather than thousands.

However, he said that the footage also showed many within the Rangers support attempting to quell the disorder and steer those involved away from the trouble.

If you recognise anyone in the photographs either contact Greater Manchester Police direct on 0161 856 4034 or the BBC's Crimewatch programme. The appropriate link on GMP's website (www.gmp.police.uk) featuring pictures of the 49 people they want to speak to goes on-line at 9pm tonight.