COP ATTACK GERMAN CASUAL EXPOSED AS TOP MONEY MAN; EXCLUSIVE CCTV catches pounds 100,000-a-year finance consultant leading riot.

Byline: NORMAN SILVESTER

A TOP finance expert led a brutal attack by hundreds of German football thugs on three Scots police officers.

The Sunday Mail can reveal details of the shocking riot led by Hamburg hooligan ringleader Rene Wurzbach.

The 32-year-old graduate assaulted and injured three cops as his 300-strong mob rampaged through Glasgow city centre.

CCTV footage shows shaven-headed Wurzbach running at police officers at the head of a baying column of Hamburg supporters.

He viciously kicks a female constable before lashing a punch at a male colleague and then kicking another officer.

Details of the riot led by high-flyer Wurzbach will shock the German financial sector, where he earns more than pounds 100,000 a year as a management consultant.

Wurzbach was arrested and held in a cell before Hamburg's Europa league match with Celtic at Parkhead 11 days ago.

But he was freed after a sheriff said it was not feasible to get background reports on him and that she would be unable to take into consideration any previous crimes he had committed in Germany.

Wurzbach paid his entire pounds 1600 fine on the spot by credit card at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday.

A police source said: "This is the kind of hooligan riot which the public remain unaware of - unless they are unlucky enough to be caught up in it."

There was a terrifying mob mentality as the hooligans ran through the streets in the early evening.

The footage shows how, without warning, Wurzbach suddenly leads a charge along Parnie Street in the Merchant City, near to busy Argyle Street.

The terrified driver of a Honda desperately tries to reverse to avoid the mob.

Then boozed-up Wurzbach turns his venom on police officers and viciously boots PC Kirsty Scrimgeour.

Without breaking stride, he punches a second constable, Campbell Kyle, and then kicks his boss, Chief Inspector Anthony O'Donnell, between the legs.

A fourth officer tries to hit him with his stick before he runs off.

Wurzbach was later arrested and spent a week in Barlinnie Prison before appearing at the city's sheriff court.

The German - who speaks fluent English - admitted three police assaults and a charge of breach of the peace.

Two of the officers had to take time off work to recover from their injuries.

Wurzbach's work takes him all over Germany, Austria and Russia to the offices of his wealthy corporate clients.

He flies business class at their expense and advises them on financial and management matters.

On an internet website entry, he claims to work for BearingPoint, an American multi-national management consultancy company who sponsored American golfer Phil Mickelson.

However, at weekends and while on trips abroad to see his club play matches, he swaps his pinstripe suit for denims and hooded Hamburg FC tops.

Sheriff Celia Sanderson told him: "We have enough football thugs here without you behaving in an appalling manner.

"You were almost a ringleader. You were inciting a crowd and assaulted three police officers badly.

"I have not had a record of previous convictions provided, so I have to treat you as a first offender.

"If I were to consider jail, I would have had to have obtained a report but I do not consider that feasible, as you are a German national."

"If you do not pay, then you will be given the alternative, which is jail."

The thug - still wearing the same Hamburg FC jacket that he was arrested in - made no comment as he left after the hearing.

The court heard that the German fans had been spotted on Glasgow Bridge, at the bottom of Jamaica Street, en-route to Celtic Park.

Police were forced to move in as they became concerned the drunken mob could start trouble.

As the riot broke out around Parnie Street, various incidents were caught on CCTV cameras.

After he was shown the film, Wurzbach decided to plead guilty.

The police source said: "He was out of control and looking for trouble. He did not seem to care who he was hitting.

"Assaulting police officers doing their job is bad enough but to strike a female constable like that is shocking. It really made you wince.

"Wurzbach has brought shame upon his country and is very lucky that he is free to return so soon. After he had sobered up, he was very contrite and seemed worried he would lose his job if he was jailed."

Wurzbach's lawyer, Jason Beltrami, of Beltrami Berlow, said his client could not remember assaulting the officers and that he realised that he had "done wrong".

A spokesman for Bearing-Point said yesterday: "For reasons of confidentiality, we do not confirm employment of any individual or disclose any individualrelated information." Assistant Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: "Fortunately the officers were not seriously hurt and have since returned to operational duties.

"It is, however, absolutely unnacceptable for police officers to be assaulted in the course of their duties and we will vigorously pursue any offender who causes such injury to our staff."

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CAPTION(S):

Free to go: Wurzbach, who had spent a week in the cells, is pictured outside court, where he paid his fine by credit card Chief Inspector Anthony O'Donnell crumples in agony after being VICIOUS kicked in the groin by Wurzbach, circled, who then turns away Drunken Rene Wurzbach, circled, leads the crowd of German hooligans as they prepare to attack police in the city centre CHARGE