Special units from the police, military, and rescue services in Germany and Austria conducted two days of counter-terrorism exercises in southern Germany in preparation for the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2024) scheduled for this summer.
Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann emphasized the importance of preparing for scenarios everyone hopes will never occur. Although there are currently no specific terrorist threats for the event, which will take place across the country from June 14 to July 14, the training scenarios included a range of potential threats such as drone attacks, snipers, knife-wielding attackers, shootings in metro stations, hostage situations in media buildings, and how to handle chemical, biological, or nuclear attacks.
The exercises were primarily conducted in police and military training sites in Nuremberg, Roth, Sulzbach-Rosenberg, and Amberg, all located in the state of Bavaria. Herrmann noted that the units impressively demonstrated their preparedness for a wide range of threats. This marks the first major maneuver of its kind in the state since one conducted 12 years ago in Schleswig-Holstein, northwest Germany.
These exercises reflect the heightened awareness and proactive measures against potential security threats, aiming to address a wide range of scenarios, from drone attacks to chemical threats. Such preparedness activities are crucial for large-scale events like the Euro 2024, given the significant number of visitors and the tournament’s visibility.
The UEFA Euro 2024 is set to be a landmark event, marking Germany’s first time hosting the tournament since reunification, with matches also being held in Leipzig, a city in what was formerly East Germany. This edition of the tournament will not only highlight Germany’s football culture and infrastructure but also its capacity to ensure the safety and security of an event of this magnitude.
