Shots fired during Italy-Albania match leaving 23-year-old seriously injured as cops with submachine guns hunt attacker
SHOTS were fired during the heated Italy-Albania match in Germany, leaving a 23-year-old seriously injured.
The man was hit in his leg and arm in the Berlin district of Moabit, as cops armed with submachine guns launched an urgent manhunt for the attacker.
The 23-year-old victim, seriously injured by at least one bullet, managed to drag himself to a nearby street before collapsing.
He was rescued by an emergency doctor from the German army and received first aid by paramedics before being taken to hospital, where he underwent surgery.
He was shot in his leg and arm but his injuries are not life-threatening.
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Initial findings reveal the man was hit with a small-caliber weapon, according to Bild.
Cops say he was accompanied by a 19-year-old, who was not injured.
Several police patrol cars, a specialist police station and a crime scene photographer were called to the site.
said in a statement: "An unknown man is said to have shot two young men with a firearm on the sidewalk of Rathenower Strasse at around 10 pm.
"He is said to have injured one of the men, a 23-year-old, in the arm and leg. His 19-year-old companion was uninjured.
"The unknown man then fled. Police officers searched for him in the immediate area, but were unable to find him."
Investigations into the attack are ongoing, Berlin Police confirmed.
Some witnesses made unconfirmed claims that the attack was sparked by a brawl between football fans during the Italy-Albania match.
It is not known yet if the victims or the suspect were spectators attending the game.
Italy had beaten Albania 2:1 in the Euros match in Dortmund on Saturday night.
It comes after German cops shot dead a knifeman who attacked a group of football fans at a Euros garden party on Friday.
The supporters were enjoying their first game against when the assailant came into their backyard just minutes after kick-off.
"The perpetrator died in hospital."
German police have also raised concerns over potential clashes at England's Euro opener against Serbia.
Three Lions fans have been told to yell the code word "Panama" if they're in danger.
Cops are bracing themselves for violence at the curtain raiser clash amid security threats from the dreaded Serbian ultra groups.
The competition organisers told fans who feel "unsafe" or "threatened" at Sunday's powder-keg match to say "Wo geht’s nach [Which way to] Panama?” or simply "Panama".
There will also be a specialist Panama team at the games who are “a multilingual, multi-professional team trained in crisis intervention, non-violent communication and de-escalation”.
Sunday's fixture has already been labelled the most “high risk” of the tournament.
Meanwhile, police fear 500 Serbian Ultra hooligans plan to trigger mayhem at the game in Gelsenkirchen's Veltins Arena.
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A ban on strong booze has already been enforced meaning 62,000 fans will only be served shandy or low alcohol beer.
It is also understood British police "spotters" and plain-clothed officers will also be on hand to watch England fans at every match.
