POLICE have released photos of 14 Crystal Palace fans after a group of them surged towards police and helped an arrested man to escape and run off.

The trouble happened just before the Brighton and Hove Albion v Crystal Palace match outside their Selhurst Park stadium in South London.

Police were called to the scene in Holmesdale road, near the stadium, after a group of Palace fans were seen setting off fireworks.

Officers arrested one member of the group in connection with the fireworks.

In response to the arrest, a large group of fans surged towards the officers and began pushing, shoving and becoming increasingly aggressive towards them, officers said.

During this confrontation the group managed to free the arrested male, who ran away.

Detectives are now working to identify a number of people involved in the fireworks trouble, which happened on March 9, and the aggressive behaviour that happened shortly afterwards, resulting in the escape of an arrested man.

Scotland Yard said the fans pushed and shoved the officers and became “increasingly aggressive” towards them.

Scotland Yard said the group’s behaviour “had the sole objective of ensuring the escape of the detained male.”

Inspector Matt Ashmead, from the Met’s Central Football Unit, said: “The actions of those involved in this incident were aggressive and intimidating.

“In the latter stages they had the sole objective of attacking officers to ensure the escape of the detained male.

“We have an experienced, dedicated team working hard to identify those involved in order to bring them, and the man originally arrested, to justice.

“We have made a number of identifications already, but we are now appealing for the assistance of the public in identifying the remainder.

“Anyone who recognises those pictured should call us directly on 020 8246 0076 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting the relevant image reference number.”