From Le Figaro with AFP
Published yesterday at 10:52 p.m., updated yesterday at 11:55 p.m.
Cologne Cathedral is on alert this evening. THILO SCHMUELGEN / Portal
German daily Bild claims that security services in Austria, Germany and Spain have received indications that an Islamist group plans to carry out several attacks in Europe, possibly on New Year's Eve and Christmas.
The German police announced that they would carry out searches in Cologne Cathedral (West) with sniffer dogs on Saturday evening following a “threat report” for New Year’s Eve. “Even if the information relates to New Year’s Eve, starting this evening we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of visitors to the cathedral on Christmas Eve,” said Cologne Police Chief Michael Esser in a press release.
After the evening mass, the cathedral would be searched with sniffer dogs “in agreement with the security chief of the cathedral chapter,” the police said. “On Sunday, all visitors will be screened before entering the place of worship,” the press release says. “The police and the cathedral chapter recommend avoiding bags and arriving early for masses,” it says.
Suspected of several attacks in Europe
The German daily Bild states on its website that security services in Austria, Germany and Spain have received indications that an Islamist group may want to carry out several attacks in Europe on New Year's Eve and Christmas. According to the newspaper, the targets of these attacks could be Christmas fairs in Cologne, Vienna and Madrid. He also claims that the first arrests by special forces took place on Saturday in Vienna, as well as one in Germany.
A Vienna police officer contacted by AFP could not immediately confirm an arrest. The Austrian police also announced on Saturday that they were increasing their surveillance, particularly around churches, religious events and Christmas markets in Vienna.
“Terrorists in Europe are calling for attacks against Christian events, particularly around December 24,” she said in a statement. “Due to the current risk assessment (…) and the continuously increasing terror alert level, there is an increased risk overall in Austria during the Christmas holidays,” the press release continues.