Racists target Irish players

EXTRA POLICE patrols were being mounted across Britain today to guard against race-hate attacks as it emerged that top footballers had been threatened by far-right extremists.

Roy Keane and Denis Irwin of Manchester United are among several England- based Irish players who have received threats, purporting to come from the neo-Nazi group Combat 18.

The development has underlined the need for continued vigilance this weekend as leaders of minority communities expressed fears of further racist crimes, despite the arrest last weekend of a man suspected of planting three nail bombs in London.

Last night, a vigil was held in Soho, central London, for the victims of the third bombing, last Friday, which claimed the lives of three people when it exploded at the Admiral Duncan pub in Old Compton Street.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said yesterday: "We don't want people to relax their guard just because a man is in custody."

There will be extra patrols by uniformed officers, both on foot and in vehicles, particularly in areas considered possible targets, such as Southall, Brixton, and Soho.

Undercover officers will also watching out for any activities by extremists.