German police announced that they were conducting searches in Cologne Cathedral (West) on Saturday, December 23rd, particularly for explosive devices, after a “danger alert” was issued for December 31st. “Even if the information relates to New Year’s Eve, starting this evening we will do everything we can to ensure the safety of cathedral visitors on Christmas Eve,” Cologne Police Chief Michael Esser is quoted as saying in a press release.
After the evening mass, the cathedral was 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.
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.
Read also: Five people arrested as part of an anti-terror operation in Meurthe-et-Moselle
Increased surveillance in Austria
The Austrian police also announced on Saturday that they were intensifying 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 development (…) and the continuously increasing terror alert level, there is an increased risk overall in Austria during the Christmas holidays,” the press release continues.
On Friday, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin called on prefects to be “extremely vigilant” due to the “very high risk of terrorism.” On the same day, five people were arrested in Meurthe-et-Moselle and taken into custody by the secret services as part of an investigation into “criminal terrorist organization”. According to a source familiar with the case, those arrested belong to the Islamist movement.