Police shoot man after attack on Euro 2024 party – DW – 15.06.2024

A man attacked several people in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, including at a private celebration to mark the opening of the 2024 European Football Championship, German media reported on Saturday.

According to police, the attacker first stabbed a young man in Wolmirstedt, a town of 12,000 inhabitants north of Magdeburg, who later succumbed to his injuries.

The German news agency DPA quoted police as saying that the attacker – a 27-year-old Afghan national – then stormed through a nearby allotment garden and threatened people with a “knife-like object”.

He then entered the property where the party for the Germany vs. Scotland match was taking place and randomly stabbed those present. Three people were injured.

The attack occurred a few minutes after the kick-off of the Group A match, police said.

Injured person is said to be in serious condition

Two of the injured, a 50-year-old man and a 75-year-old man, were seriously injured, police said.

A 56-year-old man was slightly injured.

The attacker was later shot dead by police.

Police said the man approached officers when they arrived at the scene and “firearms were deployed.”

The perpetrator “died in hospital from gunshot wounds,” police added.

Mostly peaceful opening evening

The opening night of Euro 2024 was largely peaceful.

Even before the tournament, there had been fears that a major attack could occur.

Germany defeated Scotland 5-1 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, southern Germany.

Until July 14, matches of the 2024 European Championship will be played in ten stadiums, from Hamburg in the north of Germany to Munich in the south.

mm/ab (dpa, AFP)