Berlin, June 17, 2024, The Europe Today: Germany’s Interior Ministry expressed satisfaction with the security arrangements in place during the opening weekend of the Euro 2024 championship. “The security measures are working,” stated Interior Ministry spokesperson Maximilian Kall on Monday, noting that there had been no unexpected events so far.
However, incidents occurred away from the pitch. In Saxony-Anhalt, police fatally shot a man who had stabbed a guest at a viewing party. In Hamburg, police shot a man wielding a hammer near where Dutch soccer fans were gathering, though authorities dismissed any connection to the Euros.
Kall acknowledged an isolated incident of violence between England and Serbia fans ahead of their Sunday match. “Of course there were incidents at the weekend, for example … with hooligans yesterday in Gelsenkirchen, but that was a situation the police there tackled quickly and above all were prepared for,” Kall said.
Police reported that a group of Serbia supporters dining at a restaurant was confronted by a group of England fans attempting to enter. Social media footage showed chairs being thrown outside the restaurant, which was adorned with Serbian flags. Senior Gelsenkirchen police official Peter Both reported that seven Serbia fans and one England fan were detained. One fan, who sustained a head injury, discharged himself from the hospital to watch the game.
On Monday, an England fans’ group called for an “urgent and thorough” review of transport arrangements after spectators faced delays getting home after the match. “To see fans stranded in Gelsenkirchen Hauptbahnhof (central station) three hours after the game has finished due to transport problems at a major tournament is quite simply ridiculous,” stated the Free Lions Fan Embassy.
Despite these isolated incidents, the Interior Ministry remains confident in the effectiveness of the security measures in place for Euro 2024, emphasizing that the overall situation remains under control.
