German authorities have apprehended an individual who climbed onto the roof of Borussia Dortmund’s stadium during Germany’s 2-0 victory over Denmark in the Euro 2024 round of 16. The incident occurred after play was suspended in the first half due to a thunderstorm in the area. The man, who was masked, was pursued and held at gunpoint by police before being taken into custody. Authorities have assured that there was no danger to others during the incident, but they have not yet disclosed the individual’s identity or motive.
Police split the crowd to chase down the supporter who accessed the roof at BVB Stadion Dortmund
The masked individual walked along the beam inside the roof after Germany’s match against Denmark
The individual attempted to climb into another section of the roof before being arrested
A police spokesperson, Peter Bandermann, addressed the situation, stating that officers approached the individual to ensure a safe descent from the roof. He also mentioned that no information could be provided about the person’s motive or identity at that time. The incident occurred after the final whistle, with fans still in the stadium. Police split the crowd to pursue the individual, who walked along a beam high above the stands. The police drew their weapons and chased the individual, eventually apprehending them at gunpoint.
Police officers in the rafters communicated with the individual after the pursuit
The individual (left) eventually complied, walking back towards the police after repeated attempts
The supporter was unmasked and handcuffed as the stadium was evacuated
The incident has raised security concerns, especially given the recent statement by UEFA regarding the tightening of security at host stadiums due to pitch invasions during the tournament. German police were already on high alert before the competition, focusing on terrorism, traveling criminals, and violent hooligans. The match between Germany and Denmark was temporarily suspended due to thunder and lightning, with Germany eventually winning 2-0 after a VAR-disallowed goal for Denmark and a penalty for Germany.