In a dramatic standoff in central Hamburg, police shot and seriously injured a man brandishing an axe who threatened officers.
The suspect is currently receiving medical attention following the significant police operation, city officials reported.
The incident occurred near a fan zone designated for Dutch football supporters, as the Netherlands faced Poland in the Euro 2024 tournament on Sunday.
Initial reports indicated the man threatened police with a pickaxe and an incendiary device. Later, a Hamburg police spokesperson told the BBC that the suspect attempted to ignite a petrol bomb and was armed 1with a pickaxe. Officers initially responded with pepper spray before shooting him.
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The confrontation happened around 12:30 local time (10:30 GMT). Video footage posted online shows the man wielding an axe in front of police officers before the sound of multiple gunshots.
Authorities have not identified the man or commented on his possible motivations.
Rory Smith, the New York Times’s chief soccer correspondent in Hamburg, reported the incident took place on the Reeperbahn, a major nightlife street near the Dutch fan zone. BBC Sport journalist Gary Rose, also in Hamburg, noted that match preparations continued as planned for the 15:00 local time kickoff.
Despite the incident, the atmosphere remained positive among the estimated 30,000 Dutch and a similar number of Polish fans in the city. The match venue is approximately five miles from the city center, where the event occurred.
