European Football Championship: Backpack at Berlin fan zone: Police give all-clear

A few hours before the kick-off of the opening match of the European Football Championship, the Berlin police temporarily cleared part of the fan zone at the Reichstag because of a suspicious piece of luggage. At around 6.30 p.m. the all-clear was given and fans were allowed back onto the grounds, a police spokeswoman said.

Emergency services found “no dangerous contents” in the backpack. According to the spokeswoman, a man who is believed to have owned the backpack was initially taken into custody and checked. The “Bild” newspaper had previously reported. The area affected was on Scheidemannstrasse, as the police told X. “This area is currently not available to fans,” the officers wrote, and the backpack was checked.

Restricted area established

According to a police spokesman, a cordon was set up around the object. It was initially unclear how many people had to leave the area. According to the organizers, the area was opened for admission at 4 p.m. Three entrances to the fan zone at the Reichstag were closed, one was initially still open, said the police spokesman.

“If nothing happens in the end, it’s better to clear too much than too little,” said Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in Munich in the evening. The SPD politician thanked the Berlin police for their consistent action. “That’s why we’re working so hard,” said Faeser.

Around 2,000 police officers are accompanying the large public events in Berlin surrounding the German opening match at the European Football Championship. The European Championship will open in the evening (9 p.m.) in the Munich Arena with the match between the German national team and Scotland.