During the EM, police registered over 8300 illegal entries.
During the Football-EM, there is a concern that people could illegally enter Germany among the millions of football fans. However, the Federal Police are well-prepared and can issue over a Thousand arrest warrants during border controls. The overall balance of the tournament is generally positive.
During the Football European Championship, the authorities registered several thousand unlawful entries at the German borders. Since June 7 - a week before the tournament began - there were 8300 such cases, according to the Federal Ministry of the Interior. The controls introduced at all German borders for the tournament have proven to be "effective measures". They will continue until July 19.
According to the reports, 1112 arrest warrants were executed during the border controls, mostly in the area of petty crime. Over a hundred hooligans were prevented from entering Germany.
The security authorities speak of a generally calm and orderly European Championship on the day after the tournament ended. "There were only a few security-relevant incidents," the Federal Ministry of the Interior added. 2340 offenses related to the EM were identified, including around 700 cases of bodily harm and approximately 120 thefts. In 140 cases, police were attacked.
"There were significantly fewer security incidents and crimes than our security authorities had expected at an event with millions of people," explained Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. "Above all, the high police presence everywhere in the country was decisive."
22,000 police officers per day in action
The EM started on June 14 and ended on Sunday evening at the Berlin Olympic Stadium with Spain defeating the English national team in regular time 2:1. Germany was eliminated in the quarterfinals against Spain.
Faeser had called the EM a "greatest operation in the history of the Federal Police" for the Federal Police beforehand. During the tournament, which took place in ten German states, there were reportedly 22,000 police officers and policewomen of the Federal Police in action every day. Currently, discussions are taking place about extending the nationwide border controls valid for Euro 2024. Faeser rejects corresponding demands from the FDP. The controls to Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, and Poland continue after July 19.
Despite concerns about illegal entries during EURO 2024, Nancy Faeser commended the Federal Police for executing over 1100 arrest warrants and preventing hooligans from entering, contributing to a generally calm event. The Federal Interior Minister also highlighted the effectiveness of border controls, leading to discussions about extending them for EURO 2024.
The Border Police's efforts during EURO 2024 resulted in the detection and prevention of numerous unlawful entries into Germany. The high-intensity border controls, which began a week before the tournament and lasted until July 19, led to the execution of 1112 arrest warrants, primarily for petty crimes.
In the run-up to EURO 2024, Nancy Faeser described it as the "greatest operation in the history of the Federal Police." Throughout the tournament, thousands of federal police officers were deployed every day, maintaining security and order across the ten participating German states.
