1 / 3 Photo: Sascha Thelen/AP/TT
In several European cities, the Christmas celebration begins in the shadow of a very high risk of terrorist attacks. In Germany, Austria and Spain, police have received indications of planned attacks on churches, and in France people are being asked to be “extremely vigilant”.
In Germany, police in Cologne have stepped up their presence at the city’s famous cathedral, Kölner Dom, following indications of terrorist threats against the church, according to German newspaper Bild. In a statement, the police said that on Saturday night they used police dogs to walk through the cathedral after the evening service and then closed the building.
On Christmas Eve, all visitors to the Christmas service must pass through security barriers to enter the cathedral. Police urge people to show up early.
Several people arrested
The police in Spain and Austria have also received indications that an Islamist group is planning attacks during the Christmas and New Year holidays, Bild reports. According to the newspaper, it will primarily be about Christmas fairs in Vienna and Madrid. Several people have been arrested in Vienna and in Germany.
In Austria, the police issued a statement that security has been increased at churches and Christmas markets:
“Given that terrorist groups in Europe are inciting attacks against Christian holidays, especially around Christmas Eve, the authorities have taken the necessary measures in public places,” it says.
There is “overall an increased risk in Austria during the Christmas holidays”, the press release continues.
“Extreme vigilance”
In Spain, the Ministry of the Interior announced earlier this month that security would be strengthened from December 18.
In France, too, there is high security at Christmas markets and churches. On Friday, the French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, urged local authorities to “maintain extreme vigilance” due to the “very high level of the terrorist threat”. On the same day, five people were arrested in Meurthe-et-Moselle in north-eastern France on suspicion of terrorist offences. According to a source for the newspaper Le Monde, those arrested belong to an Islamist movement. On Christmas Eve, four of the suspects were released.