A major police operation was carried out in Hamburg, Germany, after a man brandishing a hammer and a Molotov cocktail threatened police officers near a Euro 2024 fan park in St Pauli. The incident took place close to the popular entertainment district, Reeperbahn, just before the Group D match between the Netherlands and Poland on Sunday.

According to Hamburg police, officers shot the 39-year-old German man in order to neutralize the threat he posed to both passers-by and the police force. The man had allegedly approached several individuals, as well as the officers, brandishing the dangerous weapons. Despite warnings to drop the objects, the man refused to comply, leading the officers to take action.

The injured individual was immediately provided with first aid on the scene before being taken to a local hospital for further medical attention. The motive behind the man's actions remains unknown at this time, and there is no evidence to suggest any connection to the UEFA EURO 2024 tournament. The investigation is ongoing, with the State Criminal Police Office leading the inquiry in coordination with the Hamburg Public Prosecutor's Office.

While the incident occurred in the city center, the Group D match took place at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion, approximately five miles away. Germany has heightened security measures for the tournament, given the large number of attendees expected, with 2.7 million fans attending games across 10 stadiums, and an additional 12 million fans in fan zones alongside the 24 participating teams.

The Department of Internal Investigations of the Internal Authority will conduct inspections regarding the use of firearms by the emergency forces involved, as per standard procedure in such cases.

Authorities are reassuring the public that the necessary steps are being taken to ensure a safe and secure tournament environment, despite this concerning incident.