EM 2024: Man shot by Hamburg police after axe attack

According to Hamburg police, a man was shot by police in a Hamburg district full of football fans before Poland’s match against the Netherlands for the 2024 European Championship after he attacked a police officer with an axe.

The Reeperbahn district, where thousands of Dutch fans were at the time, was cleared by police shortly before 12:30 CET (6:30 ET) after an officer was attacked.

Riot police entered the area and shot dead the man responsible for the attack. It is still unclear whether the attacker was a football fan.

A statement from the Hamburg police said: “There is currently a major police operation in St. Pauli.

“According to initial findings, a person threatened police officers with a pickaxe and an incendiary device. The police then used their firearms. The attacker was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.”

There was a strong police presence in Hamburg before the game, but fans from both camps behaved peacefully before the incident.