Football - Hamburg Police Ready for European Championships: A "Tremendous Effort"
Although football aficionados in Hamburg are busy organizing a grand celebration during the European Championship, the local police are rigorously preparing for a demanding four-week period. The upcoming tournament, with five games at the Volksparkstadion and the fan zone on the Heiligengeistfeld, will challenge the city's law enforcement officers. According to Matthias Tresp, the head of the protection police in Hamburg, "We'll be pushed to our limits" Come Wednesday. Falk Schnabel, the Police President, considers it a strenuous undertaking.
To meet the challenges of the tournament, Hamburg police have been preparing for more than two years. Their primary focus areas are the Volksparkstadion, the fan zone, and the Reeperbahn. The entire police force will be on duty during the event, as there will be a leave ban for officers. Over 3,500 officers are anticipated to be deployed on matchdays, with support from other states.
Tresp announced that the police would harness all available resources in Hamburg. This entails utilizing the criminal police and water police, among others. "There has never been such an extensive, diverse, and detailed preparation - nationwide - for safety-related matters as for this European Championship," Tresp explained.
Matches taking place in Hamburg are slated between Poland and the Netherlands (June 16), Croatia and Albania (June 19), Georgia and the Czech Republic (June 22), the Czech Republic and Turkey (June 26), and a quarter-final (July 5). The Czech national team is stationed at the hotel Treudelberg in the city. They will practice at Eintracht Norderstedt's stadium, a regional league team.
The Hamburg police currently anticipate an "abstract threat situation" for the European Championship. Until now, there are no significant findings regarding politically motivated crime or sports violence, according to Tresp. This does not encompass violent fan groups. Tresp could not specify which game presents a greater threat at this point. Each match has its unique set of conditions.
Given the current circumstances, Tresp assured that his officers are not apprehensive about the situation.
Near the Volksparkstadion, a security perimeter has been established. The primary objective during games is to separate different fan groups. Two distinct train stations aid the authorities in achieving this goal. Prior to the tournament, the Hamburg police will use explosive detection dogs to search the stadium before relaying it to the organizing continental association, UEFA. The police recommend city residents to avoid the stadium during the games and utilize public transportation instead.
The forces anticipate great interest in the fan zone on the Heiligengeistfeld, which can accommodate up to 50,000 fans. Besides public viewing for 40,000 fans, there will be concerts and international cuisines. Admission is free. "We foresee a significant demand for the fan zone on certain match days," remarked Claus Reuter, head of the European Championship preparation team. Nonetheless, the police generally harbor an optimistic outlook. "We expect a football festival overall," Reuter concluded.
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- Despite the excitement among soccer fans in Hamburg for the EM tournament, the local police are gearing up for a significant challenge, with over 3,500 officers expected to be deployed during matchdays.
- The Czech Republic's national team, set to play several matches at the Volksparkstadion, is currently training at Eintracht Norderstedt's stadium.
- The fan zone on Heiligengeist Field, capable of accommodating 50,000 fans, will offer free public viewing and international cuisines during the tournament.
- To ensure safety and prevent any potential threats, Hamburg police have utilized explosive detection dogs to search the Volksparkstadion and will maintain a security perimeter near the stadium.
- Matthias Tresp, the head of Hamburg's protection police, considers the European Championship a strenuous undertaking, emphasizing that the police force will be pushed to their limits.
- Police President Falk Schnabel agrees with Tresp, acknowledging the demanding nature of the tournament, which will feature five games at the Volksparkstadion and fan zone on Heiligengeist Field.
- The fan zone is anticipated to attract a large number of fans on certain match days, with Claus Reuter expressing optimism that the European Championship will overall resemble a football festival.
- Preparations for the European Championship in Hamburg have been meticulous, with the police focusing on the Volksparkstadion, fan zone, and Reeperbahn, ensuring that the feat of strength displayed on the soccer field is matched by the work of law enforcement officers.
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