Security - For "good photos": masked man reveals EM security breach
A 21-year-old man with a large backpack provoked the deployment of a special unit and exposed new security vulnerabilities at the European Football Championship by climbing under the roof of Dortmund's stadium during the German quarterfinal match. The man climbed under the stadium on Saturday during the game, according to police reports, because he wanted to take photos. "At no point" was there a danger - however, many questions remain unanswered.
The European Football Union UEFA and the Dortmund police will examine and investigate how the suspect was able to enter and get onto the roof of the stadium unimpeded, the police stated. All security measures at the EM stadiums will be reviewed further, UEFA announced.
The man was reportedly spotted at 10:11 pm and was observed "relentlessly" using drones and a helicopter - the game on the field continued uninterrupted.
At 11:44 pm - after the final whistle - the man followed police instructions and climbed back down onto a walkway. "Forces from a special unit arrested him there, handcuffed and searched him. The man did not carry dangerous items," the police wrote. A camera setup was found in his backpack. The man is known to the police, classified as so-called "roofers" - people who climb high buildings, film or photograph themselves and their surroundings, and often publish the results.
National team players informed
The national team players, who advanced to the semifinals with a 2:0 win over Denmark, were informed of the incident, the German Football Association confirmed. Referee Michael Oliver informed the captains of both teams, Ilkay Gündogan and Kasper Schmeichel, of the situation before the second half kickoff. Pictures show all three looking up towards the stadium roof. The referee was also in contact with a UEFA delegate.
The criminal police are charging the man with trespassing. Preliminary investigations have shown that he had planned to take photos at prominent buildings in great heights in April 2022 in Herne and in May 2024 in Ulm. "Criminal proceedings are also ongoing in these cases," the police stated. The Osnabrück man reportedly stated during questioning at the criminal police station on Sunday night that he wanted to take "good photos."
English newspaper publishes video
The English newspaper "Daily Mail" published a longer video showing that the man was disguised at times. The backpack seems too large to have passed through the fan security checks to enter the stadium.
The man climbed from the accessible steps to the rafters of the roof structure. The moment he was taken away is also documented. Access to this area under the roof is usually restricted. The accessible platforms under the roof serve approximately for the maintenance of the stadium's technical equipment.
The incident was not the first security breach at the tournament. Mostly it was about so-called "runners" who managed to get onto the field to take photos with the players.
At Munich's National Team opening game, a Webvideo producer managed to gain access to the stadium interior by dressing up as the mascot "Albärt" and using a fake accreditation. Investigations are ongoing in this matter. The YouTuber published lengthy videos about it and described his actions in detail. The weaknesses apparently lay particularly in the security checks at the stadium.
Report "Daily Mail" Third Police Statement First Police Statement Second Police Statement
- The special unit, deployed due to the 21-year-old's actions, revealed potential vulnerabilities in the European Football Championship's security measures.
- The lawn underneath Dortmund's stadium roof remained undisturbed during the German quarterfinal match, despite the intruder's presence.
- The Daily Mail published a video showing the man wearing disguise, raising questions about the effectiveness of the stadium's fan security checks.
- Germany's team, advancing to the semifinals, was informed about the incident before the second half kickoff by referee Michael Oliver.
- The man, known as a "roofer" to the police, had plans to take photos at prominent buildings in Herne and Ulm, according to preliminary investigations.
- UEFA, along with Dortmund police, will examine how the suspect managed to enter and climb on the stadium roof unnoticed, and review all security measures at EM stadiums.
- A helicopter and drones were used by the intruder to capture photos, but they did not disrupt the game's flow.
- Security personnel arrested the man, classified as a "roofer," after the game and found a camera setup in his oversized backpack.
- The incident in North Rhine-Westphalia's stadium was not the only security breach at the European Football Championship, as runners also managed to gain access to other stadiums for photo opportunities.
