Interior minister says security 'top priority' at Euros in Germany

Security for players and fans at this year's European Football Championships, which Germany is hosting this summer, "has top priority," German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said on Thursday.

"We will make the European Football Championship a safe tournament - for everyone in our country and for our guests from all over the world," the Social Democrat (SPD) politician said on Thursday.

She made her comments in Frankfurt at a meeting of the National Coordination Committee on the status of preparations for the tournament, which runs from June 14 to July 14. Her office made a statement available.

"Our focus ranges from protection against hooligans and crime and extremist threats to cybersecurity and preparation for severe storms or other natural events," explained Faeser. "We are well prepared - and the anticipation of this major celebration of football in our country is huge."

The safety of the fans and national teams, the people of Germany and international guests is a top priority, the statement stated.

This applies not only to the 10 host cities of Berlin, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Gelsenkirchen, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich and Stuttgart, in the stadiums, at public viewings or in the fan zones, but also beyond, Faeser said.

In addition to a national security plan - which describes the security measures and activities of the responsible authorities, organizations and institutions at the federal and state levels before and during the tournament - there will also be intensive cooperation with the security authorities of the potential participating, neighbouring and possible transit countries, she said.

The International Police Cooperation Centre (IPCC) in the city of Neuss across the Rhine from Dusseldorf is at the heart of the international cooperation.

The security authorities are also well prepared in the event of natural events such as severe storms, other major incidents or health hazards around the tournament.