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Hooligans have been scoping out hotels in Lille for arriving England fans amid fears of renewed violence ahead of the team’s Euro 2016 match tomorrow, the Standard can reveal.

Groups of French thugs have been carrying out reconnaissance missions at hotels looking to find English supporters, while suspected Russian “spotters” have also been seen apparently passing on information by phone to counterparts.

A source told the Standard: “They stand outside the hotels, watching and looking for England fans. They want to know where they are staying. They are thugs, hooligans, and just want to cause trouble.”

The Standard discovered one group near a hotel close to the city centre. Two men watched the entrance for around an hour, while around 15 others remained out of sight around the corner.

An onlooker said: “They were eyeing up the hotel. They clearly want to know where the English fans are. It’s like they carrying out reconnaissance work for an attack later. It’s pretty scary and not what you expect for a football tournament – it’s like a battleground.”

Russian “ultras”, who were behind the three days of carnage in Marseille, fought with English fans yesterday as increased security measures swung into action to try to quell any more disturbances.

But there are worries that troublemakers could be planning more attacks with tens of thousands of English supporters expected to arrive in the northern city today.

Police have described the Russian hooligans as “extreme” and “well trained”, with videos showing them moving in battle formations as targeted English fans.

A group arrived in Lille last night, confronting a pub full of English fans who had been drinking all day and were singing anti-IRA and Russia songs.

The thugs were seen putting in gum shields and pulling up bandanas over their faces before launching an assault, punching and throwing bottles and chairs before riot police stepped in.

They are understood to have been members of notorious hooligan “firm” Orel Butchers, who are connected to supporters of Russian team FC Lokomotiv Moscow, the same gang which was causing trouble in Marseille.

One drinker, Mark Crowe, 25, an electrician from Newcastle, told the Standard: “They punched someone, threw bottles, threw glasses. They were with balaclavas, black tee shirts, so the England fans retaliated, which is fair enough. And the police did nothing. It’s a disgrace.”

Russia were playing Slovakia in Lille this afternoon, while England take on Wales in nearby Lens tomorrow.

The country has been warned it faces expulsion from Euro 2016 if there are any more incidents of violence inside the stadiums after England supporters were attacked at the final whistle in Marseille.

Lille officials have now imposed a ban on alcohol sales from shops and supermarkets in Lille until 6am on Friday, with some 350 bars in the city required to close at midnight, and have drafted in extra police meaning there will be around 4,000 on the streets tonight.

Regional administration head Fabienne Buccio has promised that Lens will be in “police lockdown” to prevent trouble between England and Wales fans tomorrow.