German police prepare for largest deployment ever ahead of Euro 2024 as soccer violence surges

Prince William shared that his children, including youngest Prince Louis, came up with some funny advice for the soccer team heading to the EURO 2024 tournament. (Courtesy: Associated Press)

Clashes between weapon-wielding fans. Organized fights between hundreds of supporters. Late-night attacks. Life-threatening injuries.

A recent surge in violence around soccer games is contributing to concerns over security when Germany hosts the European Championship.

"We’re readying for all imaginable dangers with high levels of deployment from all security authorities," said German interior minister Nancy Faeser, who said the country is preparing for all manner of threats, from hooligans, to terrorists, to cyber criminals. "The police will have a very visible presence," she said.

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Faeser's ministry confirmed some 22,000 police officers will be on duty each day for the tournament, with no vacations.

"For the federal police it’s the largest deployment since it was founded in 1951," ministry spokesman Lars Harmsen told The Associated Press.

German police will be supported by police from countries participating in the tournament, and internal border controls have already been temporarily reintroduced.

Supporters of the Eintracht Frankfurt soccer team set a police car afire as they clash with police in Naples, southern Italy, on March 15, 2023, where their team is about to play a Champions League soccer match against Naples. (AP Photo/Salvatore Laporta, File)

Euro 2024 features matches in 10 cities, including four in the densely populated Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region — easily accessible from neighboring countries with some of the best rail