German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced that the country was reinforcing security measures ahead of the start of the European Championships on June 14 to prevent potential threats of violence.
The country expects 2.7 million people to attend matches at stadiums across the country and around 12 million at fan zones for outdoor viewing. However, Faeser stated on Tuesday that security fears had increased after a series of attacks in recent months, according to Reuters.
Law enforcement agencies will seek to prevent potential threats from Islamists, hooligans, violent individuals, and cyber-attacks. Faeser noted that there were no concrete signs of a threat, but Germany was doing its best to make the event safe.
You can never 100% guarantee security but we are well prepared and remain very vigilant.
She also reported a large police presence, supported by officers from other countries, and 16,000 volunteers.
On Friday, a 25-year-old man seriously stabbed six people at a rally of national-oriented activists in Mannheim. A police officer died from his injuries, and police shot at the attacker.
Faeser stated that the Euro 2024 tournament provided an opportunity for people to unite against threats from extremism within the country.
We want to show that sport stands for respect and cohesion.
