German police in Hamburg shot and wounded a man who was threatening them with an axe and a firebomb in the downtown St. Pauli area of the city. The incident took place just hours before a match in the Euro 2024 soccer tournament was scheduled to be held in the city.
According to reports, police officers resorted to firing at the man after he refused to lay down the axe, ultimately hitting him in the leg. Images published by German media showed the individual lying in the street surrounded by paramedics and police officers.
The city was bustling with fans ahead of the match between the Netherlands and Poland, but authorities stated that there was no immediate indication that the incident was linked to the soccer game.
German authorities have heightened security measures during the ongoing tournament, which commenced on Friday and is set to continue until July 14. This move comes amidst concerns of potential fan violence and terrorist threats.
Just two days prior to this incident, police were forced to fatally shoot an Afghan man in eastern Germany after he attacked a compatriot and later injured three individuals who were watching a televised game between Germany and Scotland. The motive behind that attack remains unclear as investigations continue.
