European Football Tournament - Authorities have sufficiently prepped for the European Championships.
Rhineland-Palatinate Police Prepare for the European Football Championship
As we draw closer to the opening match of the European Football Championship, the law enforcement in Rhineland-Palatinate feels confident in their readiness. Despite the absence of stadiums in the state, the event is still expected to keep the police in the region busy. Interior Minister Michael Ebling shared these thoughts in Mainz on Tuesday.
The law enforcement is primarily focusing on the quarter of the Slovak national team in Mainz and a Danish fan camp in Bad Dürkheim. In addition, the state police will dispatch officers to an internationally staffed police coordination center with its headquarters in North Rhine-Westphalia, Neuss. Here, the riot police and helicopter squad will be supported by other federal states, alongside police dogs with their handlers. The officers are also preparing for public viewings at various locations and carnivals following matches.
So far, approximately 500 individuals have signed up for the Danish fan camp at a camping camp in Bad Dürkheim. However, this number may still increase. The first fans of the Danish team, which will play group matches in Frankfurt and Stuttgart, are expected to arrive on June 15th. The camp will feature Danish comedians, as per the Mainz police inspection's head, Katja Bauer.
The arrival of the Slovak national team in Mainz is anticipated around June 11th. They will reside at a hotel situated along the Rhine bank and conduct their training sessions at the Bruchweg stadium. Fans from Slovakia are not considered violent, according to Friedel Durben, the inspector of the Rhineland-Palatinate police. Tickets will be distributed for the training sessions.
Six officers from Rhineland-Palatinate will join the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC) in Neuss. Four of them will organize the escort of the delegations from England, Georgia, Switzerland, and Serbia. One officer will be part of a nationwide team of scene experts at the IPCC, and another will serve as the IPCC coordinator for Group F with Turkey, Georgia, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.
"It's going to be a fairytale event once more," said Inspector Durben, describing the entirety of the European Football Championship. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all, close coordination with federal authorities, the police of other federal states, and international partners is essential. This includes sharing information about potential troublemakers or offenders. The police are also gearing up for potential violence, crime, and conflicts at locations separate from the actual stadiums.
"We now live in a time of enhanced abstract danger," said Durben, discussing the current climate. Major events such as the European Football Championship could be viewed as symbolic targets for right-wing extremists or even Islamists. While there are no specific threats identified, the police are ensuring that they are adequately prepared. With a hint of emotion, Durben concluded, "It doesn't go beyond an elevated heart rate."
Read also:
- Tough return to normality in snow and ice
- Fewer unauthorized entries: Domino effect through controls
- Trial against BND employee from mid-December
- Xhaka leads Leverkusen to triumph in cup tournament, scoring two goals.
Source: www.stern.de
