European Football Championship - Thousands of soccer fans celebrate in Berlin
For the Quarter-finals of the Football European Championship, thousands of fans in Berlin celebrated exuberantly. According to an initial police report, the fan celebrations on Saturday were largely peaceful and without major disturbances, as stated. Exact visitor numbers, such as on the Fan Mile in front of the Brandenburger Tor, were initially not known. However, there were also some incidents.
A football fan of the Italian team was briefly detained a few hours before the kick-off between Italy and Switzerland due to suspicion of showing the Hitler salute while playing the song "L’Amour toujours". The police have filed a report against the man for the use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations. The State Protection is investigating.
A video from Pentecost, in which a group of young people at a party on Sylt chanted racist slogans to the song of Gigi D'Agostino, caused widespread outrage nationwide. In Germany, there had recently been incidents involving the racist reinterpretation of the song.
Fan marches, pyrotechnics, and car convoys
According to the police, a fan march of around 3500 Swiss football fans started at 2:00 PM from Breitscheidplatz and ended at the S-Bahnhof Charlottenburg. During this, a fight broke out between some fans and a 15-year-old who had set off pyrotechnics. Other young people then demanded that he extinguish them. In the process, the 15-year-old was reportedly injured.
Law enforcement officers trying to calm down the situation were then pelted with beer cans and other objects. Three people were temporarily arrested.
After the German team's victory against Denmark, up to 700 people with vehicles gathered at the Hardenbergplatz around 11:00 PM to celebrate the 2:00 goal. Here, pyrotechnics were set off intermittently and police officers were insulted. According to the police, the celebrations were over by 1:30 AM.
Police: 30 investigative proceedings initiated
A total of 44 so-called restrictive measures were carried out on Saturday and during the night to Sunday, as stated. In addition, the police initiated 30 investigative proceedings, among other things, for the suspicion of particularly serious breach of peace, simple and dangerous bodily harm, theft, defamation, use of symbols of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations, and violation of the Narcotics Act. According to the statements, around 3000 police officers and policewomen were in action in Berlin on Saturday.
Press release Police
- despite the peacefulness of the European Football Championship Quarter-finals celebrations on Saturday, the police anticipated a lively atmosphere for the Sunday match between Denmark and Italy at the Berlin's Brandenburger Gate.
- The exuberance of soccer fans worldwide is set to continue as the semifinals of the European Football Championship approach.
- Sunday's soccer match between Denmark and Italy at the European Football Championship promises to be a significant event for soccer fans gathering at Berlin's Brandenburger Gate.
- Following the controversial incident with the Italian fan, police have made it clear that any display of unconstitutional symbols, including during whistling to soccer anthems, will not be tolerated at the European Football Championship events in Berlin.
- Amidst the excitement of the European Football Championship, soccer fans from Switzerland, along with other nations, will gather in Berlin for the remaining matchweekend action, including the game between Denmark and Italy at the iconic Brandenburger Gate.
- Berlin's police force was actively monitoring the situation during the European Football Championship, especially on Sunday, with a focus on preventing any major disturbances and ensuring the safety of soccer fans.
- With Pyrotechnics banned at the European Football Championship, soccer fans at the Whitsun celebrations around the Brandenburger Gate in Berlin were forced to find alternative means to express their enthusiastic spirits.
