(Berlin) Germany will establish security controls on each of its borders during the European Men’s Soccer Championship in June and July, the Federal Minister of the Interior and Territories announced to local media.
Minister Nancy Faeser declared to the daily Rheinische Post in an article published Tuesday that checks will be carried out at each of the country’s borders during the tournament “in order to prevent possible violent criminals from accessing the territory.” She added that these measures “are necessary in order to protect this major event of international scope as best as possible”.
The priority of the German authorities is to prevent the actions of Islamic or extremist groups, hooligans and other organizations, as well as to protect networks against possible computer attacks, she said.
Faeser’s comments came shortly after a terrorist attack by a branch of the Islamic State group at a performance hall on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia.
The decision to reinstate border controls during the soccer tournament is, however, not surprising. It is a common practice in European countries to check the identity of people entering the Schengen area during major sporting events or political summits.
Germany is already carrying out controls at the borders it shares with Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Switzerland, due to concerns associated with migratory movements.
The Euro will begin on June 14, with a curtain-raiser duel between Germany and Scotland in Munich. The final will take place in Berlin on July 14.
Italy imitated France on Monday and strengthened its border security, following the Moscow attack. Faeser’s ministry said Monday that although the terrorist threat from the Islamic State group is very real, German authorities have not raised their alert level because of the Moscow attack.