Dramatic moment armed German police close in on axeman near Euro 2024 fan zone in Hamburg before shooting him after he made firebomb threat just hours before Netherlands clash with Poland
- Four loud bangs sounded near the Reeperbahn, in Hamburg
This is the dramatic moment armed German police closed in on an axeman near a Euros fan zone today before shooting him.
A man dressed in black wields an ax and holds a firebomb near the Reppenbahm, in Hamburg, as he walks towards officers standing behind a barrier and roars.
Video footage shows him carrying a backpack in the busy district where tens of thousands of Dutch fans took part in a peaceful march just hours before the Netherlands was due to clash with Poland.
He turns his back as he is doused with pepper spray and runs into the street as passersby rush along the road.
Officers climb over the barriers and chase him before four loud bangs sound. The man then falls to the ground.
Officers opened fire after the man refused to put down the ax and hit him in the leg, German news agency dpa reported.
The attack reportedly took place around 12:30 local time in the center of St. Pauli in the northern port city.
This is the dramatic moment armed German police approach an axeman near a Euros fan zone today before shooting him
The man dressed in black wields an ax and holds a firebomb near the Reppenbahm, in Hamburg, as he shouts at officers standing behind a barrier.
He turns around while being doused with pepper spray and runs into the street as passersby rush across the road
A broken bottle is seen circled with spray paint in a cordoned off area on Silbersackstrasse after an attacker was shot by police
Riot police moved in and fired shots at an axe-wielding man after he allegedly began threatening officers
German media published images of a person lying on the street, surrounded by paramedics and police officers.
Police believe the man is a “lone offender” and say he is currently receiving medical treatment.
According to a police spokesperson, there are no initial indications that the incident is related to the football match.
Hamburg police wrote on X/ Twitter: ‘A major police operation is currently taking place at #StPauli.
“According to initial findings, a person threatened police officers with a pickaxe and an incendiary weapon. The police then used their firearms. The attacker was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.”
The incident came after thousands of German police officers monitored tens of thousands of Dutch fans who turned Hamburg’s Reeperbahn red light district into a sea of orange on Saturday evening.
The night seemed to pass without incident, with few Poles present and few signs of the Dutch becoming aggressive.
German police today shot an axeman near a Euros fan zone during a Dutch supporters’ march
Police cordon off an area near the Reeperbahn in Hamburg after a man allegedly started threatening an officer with an ax
Four loud bangs sounded near the Reeperbahn, in Hamburg, where Dutch and Polish supporters gathered ahead of today’s match
About 40,000 Dutch supporters took part in a peaceful march when a man with a gold-colored ax started attacking an officer
Dutch fans are pictured during their Fan Walk in the official UEFA Fan Zone
British police said before the tournament that the reputation of the national team fans was far better than that of the club fans who have caused a massacre in the club competition.
Photos on social media earlier showed thousands of Dutch supporters in the city enjoying the build-up to the Group D match, which was due to start at 2pm Dutch time.
The match will take place at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, with the city’s fan park in the St Pauli district.