Right-wing scenarios - After the European Football Championship: Several investigations regarding Nazi symbols
After the European Football Championship, over a dozen investigations regarding far-right incidents have been ongoing in North Rhine-Westfalia. In the most populous federal state, a total of 8 investigation procedures for incitement to hate and 15 for the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations have been recorded by the police up to July 10th, according to a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry of the German Press Agency.
The Dortmund police reported, upon request, that during the match between Italy and Albania, several persons had given the Hitler salute in mid-June. A few days later, the Hitler salute was also shown in the Fanzone at Peace Square. Additionally, there is an investigation against a person who posted a photo with a football connection and a swastika symbol superimposed. In all cases, the police have initiated corresponding investigation procedures.
Right-wing slogans and Hitler salute in Cologne
The Police in Cologne reported on two incidents exemplarily. During the first EM game in the city, police officers had noticed "foreigners out" slogans during the Ungarn fan march before the game against Switzerland in mid-June. However, these could not be attributed to anyone, and the investigations were against unknown persons. In mid-July, two named men from Poland showed the Hitler salute in the Fanzone Heumarkt area, among other things. In both cases, criminal investigations are being conducted.
The police in Düsseldorf reported a suspicion of incitement to hatred. It concerns a video on the social media platform Tiktok, in which a woman describes that during a public viewing, derogatory and hateful statements were made from a male group. The police have filed a complaint in this regard. The investigations of the State Security are ongoing.
No known cases in Gelsenkirchen
At the police in Gelsenkirchen, no proceedings in connection with incitement to hate or unconstitutional symbols during the EM period were known, as stated.
In June and July, 20 of the overall 51 EM games took place in NRW. Four of the ten stadium locations were in the federal state: Dortmund, Dortmund, Cologne, and Gelsenkirchen. The last match in NRW was the semi-final between England and the Netherlands a week ago at the Dortmund Westfalenstadion.
- The incidents of far-right behavior in North Rhine-Westphalia, following the European Football Championship (EM), have prompted over a dozen investigations.
- The police in Gelsenkirchen, one of the stadium locations in North Rhine-Westphalia, have not reported any incidents related to incitement to hate or unconstitutional symbols during the EM period.
- The German Press Agency reported that up to July 10th, the police in North Rhine-Westphalia had recorded 8 investigation procedures for incitement to hate and 15 for the use of symbols of unconstitutional organizations.
- During the match between Italy and Albania in Dortmund, several persons were observed giving the Hitler salute, prompting an investigation by the police.
- In Cologne, two incidents of right-wing slogans and the use of the Hitler salute were reported, leading to criminal investigations against the individuals involved.
- The Police in Düsseldorf are conducting an investigation into a video on Tiktok, which allegedly features derogatory and hateful statements made during a public viewing, suspected of incitement to hatred.
- The last match in North Rhine-Westphalia during the EM was the semi-final between England and the Netherlands at the Dortmund Westfalenstadion in June.
- Incidents of right-wing behavior and symbols, such as the Hitler salute, were also reported in the Fanzone at Peace Square in Cologne, resulting in ongoing investigations by the police.
