European Championship round of sixteen - For "good photos": masked man reveals EM security breach
A 21-year-old man, wearing a large backpack, provoked the deployment of a special unit and exposed new security vulnerabilities at the European Football Championship (EM) in Germany, by climbing under the roof of Dortmund's stadium during a match on Saturday.
According to police reports, he wanted to take photos. There was "no danger at any point" - however, many questions remain unanswered.
The European Football Union (UEFA), which did not comment, and the Dortmund police stated that they will investigate and examine how the suspect was able to enter and reach the roof of the stadium unobstructed. The man was reportedly spotted at 10:11 pm, and was then observed continuously using drones and a helicopter - the game on the pitch continued uninterrupted.
At 11:44 pm - after the final whistle - the man followed police instructions and climbed back onto a walkway. "Forces from a special unit arrested him there, handcuffed and searched him. The man did not carry dangerous objects," the police reported. A camera setup was found in his backpack. The man is known to the police, and is classified as a "roofer" - 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 quarterfinals with a 2:0 win against Denmark, were informed about the incident, as confirmed by the German Football Association. Referee Michael Oliver informed the captains of both teams, Ilkay Gündogan and Kasper Schmeichel, before the second half kickoff. Pictures show all three looking up towards the stadium roof. Oliver was also in contact with a UEFA delegate.
The criminal police are charging the man with trespassing. Initial investigations have shown that he attempted to take photos at notable buildings in great heights in April 2022 in Herne and in May 2024 in Ulm. "Criminal proceedings are ongoing in these cases as well," the police stated. During the interrogation at the criminal police, the man reportedly stated that he wanted to take "good photos."
English newspaper publishes video
The English newspaper "Daily Mail" had published a longer video showing the man wearing a disguise 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 onto 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 concerned so-called runners who managed to get onto the pitch 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 weakness apparently lay in the stadium security checks.
- The incident at the European Football Championship (EM) in Dortmund's stadium raised concerns among UEFA, as it involved a 21-year-old man climbing under the stadium roof during a match, despite strict security measures.
- Dortmund's police and UEFA are collaborating to investigate how the man, known as a "roofer," was able to infiltrate the restricted area, using equipment such as drones and a helicopter.
- The Special Unit, alongside the German criminal police, arrested the man after the game, finding a camera setup in his large backpack, commonly used for high-altitude photography.
- The European Football Union (UEFA) and Dortmund police are taking the incident seriously, as it highlights potential weaknesses in the security protocols for major soccer events like the European Football Championship, which is taking place in various venues across Europe.
- The man's actions led to increased scrutiny of stadium security, drawing attention to previous security breaches, such as the case of a Webvideo producer who managed to infiltrate Munich's National Team stadium during their opening game, dressed as the team's mascot.
- The incident in Dortmund sparked a discussion regarding the effectiveness of security measures at sports stadiums, with German authorities emphasizing the need to address any vulnerabilities before the European Football Championship's next tournament stage.
- North Rhine-Westphalia's police forces will review their security procedures and enhance their surveillance measures to ensure the safety and security of both football fans and players during the ongoing EM tournament and future soccer events in Germany.
