German police shoot armed man before Netherlands vs Poland

German police in the city of Hamburg have confirmed they shot a man near a Euro 2024 fan park after he was seen wielding a pick-axe and an incendiary device, per The Guardian.

Hamburg police have told reporters the man was shot in the leg and is receiving treatment, but there are no further details on his condition.

The Guardian has reported the perpetrator was armed with a “gold-tinted pickaxe”.

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The police also told reporters the aggressor was holding an “incendiary device” with The Guardian reporting this may have been a Molotov cocktail based on some witness accounts.

The incident occurred 12.30pm local time when a man exited a kebab shop in the St. Pauli area of Hamburg and started showing signs of aggression towards police officers.

The man, who has not been named, is reportedly known to have received treatment in the past for mental health-related issues. Sky Sports has reported there is no known motive for the incident.

Videos of the event show a man aggressively shouting at police, who surround him and pepper spray him before eventually shooting him as he looked to escape the scene.

Whatever the intentions of the armed man, the police acted quickly to nullify a threat to the 40,000 fans gathered close to the Heiligengeistfeld ahead of the Netherlands’ game against Poland.

A Hamburg police spokesperson told reporters, “According to current information, there is no football connection.”

Sky Sports reports German police have been put on high alert by authorities to ensure there is no violence or unpleasantness following threats from ISIS and constant concerns around hooliganism.

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