(NewsCore) - A playful snowball fight turned into a violent brawl involving more than 500 people in the eastern city of Leipzig, police said Tuesday, with fireworks, bottles and stones thrown into the mix.

A group of 40 people gathered late Monday to toss snowballs at each other but the game quickly degenerated into a massive free-for-all that required police intervention, authorities said in a statement.

"The black-clad mob threw not only snow but also firecrackers, bottles and rocks," the statement said.

More than 500 people joined the fracas, snarling traffic and sparking a major police operation.

"Officers became the main target of the hooligans but a completely uninvolved car driver also fell victim, with the mob smashing his windscreen with a beer bottle and injuring his arm."

Two officers were wounded in the fray and a police car was damaged before the group could be broken up.

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