Arrests and criminal investigations surrounding the European Championship match in Berlin

In connection with the quarter-final of the 2024 European Championship between Turkey and the Netherlands on Saturday, German police arrested 54 people and initiated 64 criminal investigations.

As the police announced on Sunday, the investigation is underway on suspicion of simple and serious bodily harm, trespassing, insulting others, fraud and violation of the Narcotics Act.

Two officers were injured and a total of 3,200 people were deployed at the high-risk match in the Olympic Stadium, which the Dutch won 2-1.

A fan march of around 8,000 Turkey supporters was stopped by the police after the controversial gesture of the wolf salute was repeatedly shown.

The wolf salute is attributed, among others, to a right-wing extremist movement known as “Ülkücü” or “Grey Wolves” and is linked to Erdogan’s political ally, the ultra-nationalist MHP in Turkey.

A Dutch fan march with 19,000 participants took place without incident, but at the Berlin fan festival there were brief clashes between fans from both camps, according to police. The groups were separated, after which the situation immediately calmed down.