Frightening moment German police close in on axeman near Euro fan zone

This is the dramatic moment armed German police close in on an axeman near a Euros fan zone today before shooting him. A man dressed in black wields an axe and holds a Molotov cocktail near the Reppenbahm, in Hamburg, as he walks towards and bellows at officers who are standing behind a barrier.

Video footage shows him carrying a rucksack in the busy district where nearby tens of thousands of Dutch fans were taking part in a peaceful march just hours before the Netherlands clash with Poland. He turns his back as he is doused in pepper spray and runs up the street as passers-by scurry across the road.

Officers climb over the barriers and chase after him before four loud bangs ring out. The man then falls to the ground. Officers opened fire after the man refused to put down the weapon, believed to be a slate hammer, hitting him in the leg, German news agency dpa reported.

His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, according to local media. The attack reportedly took place at about 12.30pm local time in the downtown St. Pauli area of the northern port city.

German media published images of a person lying in the street surrounded by paramedics and police officers. Cops believe the man is a 'lone perpetrator' and say he is currently receiving medical treatment.

A police spokesman told MailOnline there was no initial indication that the incident was related to the football game. 'According to current information, a man came out of a locality at around 12:30 pm and threatened the police officers with a pickaxe/axe-like object,' Hamburg police said.

'He was ordered by them to drop the object. He also threatened the police officers with a Molotov cocktail in his hand, which he did not drop despite being asked to do so and continued to walk towards the officers. The police officers then used their service weapons and shot him in the leg. This prevented further attacks and neither the officers nor other bystanders were injured. The police officers immediately provided first aid, which was continued a short time later by medical staff.'

'The man is currently being treated in a hospital.' Hamburg police wrote on X/ Twitter at the time of the attack: 'At #StPauli there is currently a major police operation.'

'According to initial findings, a person threatened police officers with a pickaxe and an incendiary device. The police then used their firearms. The attacker was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.'

The incident came after thousands of German officers policed the tens of thousands of Dutch fans, who turned Hamburg's Reeperbahn red light district into a sea of orange on Saturday night. The night seemed to pass off without incident, with few Poles present and little sign of the Dutch becoming aggressive.

British police said before the tournament that the reputation of the national team's fans was far better than the club fans who have brought carnage to club competition. Pictures on social media had earlier shown thousands of Netherlands supporters in the city enjoying the build-up to the Group D game, which is scheduled to kick off at 2pm BST. The game is taking place at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion, with the city's fan park situated in the St Pauli district.

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