German police have shot a person armed with an axe in Hamburg near the Dutch European Championship fan village. The attacker was injured and required medical treatment.
Hamburg police confirmed that shortly after noon, officers had shot at a man who was threatening people with a weapon near a fan village where tens of thousands of Dutch supporters were gathering ahead of the Netherlands' match against Poland on Sunday afternoon. It is the first European Football Championship match in the city.
"A large police operation is currently underway in (the district of) St. Pauli," Hamburg police wrote on social media. According to initial findings, a person threatened police officers with an axe and a Molotov cocktail.
In their efforts to disarm the person, officers first used pepper spray, and later shot the man in his leg to prevent him from attacking bystanders. "The attacker was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment."
Auf #StPauli kommt es aktuell zu einem größeren Polizeieinsatz. Nach ersten Erkenntnissen hat eine Person Polizeikräfte mit einer Spitzhacke und einem Brandsatz bedroht. Die Einsatzkräfte machten in der Folge von ihrer Schusswaffe Gebrauch. Der Angreifer wurde dabei verletzt und… pic.twitter.com/gSCVwbq2NH
— Polizei Hamburg (@PolizeiHamburg) June 16, 2024
Translation: "There is currently a major police operation in St Pauli. According to initial reports, a person threatened police officers with a pickaxe and an incendiary device. The officers then made use of their firearms. The attacker was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment."
In eyewitness footage shared on social media, a series of shots can be heard.
The man's motives are still being investigated, but the police do not assume that the incident was related to the European Championship, a spokesperson told ANP. Dutch news broadcaster NOS reported that the attack is also not thought to be an act of terror.
Hundreds of police officers from participating countries, including 20 from The Netherlands, are in Germany to assist their German counterparts during the European Championships taking place in the country since Friday.
Recordings of the incident show Dutch police officers calling on people at the scene of the incident to remain calm, leave the scene of the incident and continue to follow the instructions of German police.
The attack happened just two days after German police shot dead another man in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The man attacked people at a private party where attendees were watching the European Cup opening match between Germany and Scotland on Friday evening, leaving three people seriously injured.
